Arrests after hospital abuse film

2011-06-01 00:31:05

1 June 2011 Last updated at 11:53 Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Email Print Four arrests after patient abuse caught on film  

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Joe Casey said filming the abuse was the hardest thing he had done

"These are all people's sons, daughters, parents, aunties, uncles. These are all people who have got families… the families themselves do not know what goes on there."

Mr Bryan reported his concerns to both management at Winterbourne View and to the CQC, but his complaint was not taken up.

Ian Biggs, regional director of the CQC for the southwest, said an opportunity to prevent abuse was missed when Mr Bryan's complaints were not investigated.

"Had we acted at that time, as we have done now, we can act very quickly to cease that kind of treatment.

"We missed that chance and we are sorry for that and we're doing everything we can now to make sure we're responding properly."

In a statement, the Care Quality Commission said, following an internal review, it recognised that "there were indications of problems at this hospital which should have led to us taking action sooner".

"We apologise to those who have been let down by our failure to act more swiftly to address the appalling treatment that people at this hospital were subjected to," it said.

Continue reading the main story “Start Quote

They are scenes of torment that are not easily forgotten”

End Quote Joe Casey Panorama reporter Reporter 'haunted' by abuses

Mr Burstow said people deserve to receive "safe and effective care" from every care provider.

He also said he had "confirmed with CQC that they should undertake a series of unannounced inspections of services for people with learning disabilities."

Castlebeck has launched an internal investigation into their whistle-blower procedures and are reviewing the records of all 580 patients in 56 facilities.

The vulnerable patients filmed by Panorama have been moved to safety.

The hospital charges taxpayers an average of £3,500 per patient per week and Castlebeck has an annual turnover of £90m.

Chief executive Lee Reed told the programme he was "ashamed" by what had happened.

"All I can do is unreservedly apologise to both the families and the vulnerable adults that have been involved in this and recommit to making sure this doesn't happen again," he said.

Panorama reporter Joe Casey said he was shocked by what he witnessed.

"On a near-daily basis, I watched as some of the very people entrusted with the care of society's most vulnerable targeted patients - often, it seemed, for their own amusement. They are scenes of torment that are not easily forgotten," he said.

South Gloucestershire Council said it "takes all allegations of abuse and mistreatment of vulnerable adults very seriously".

In a statement, it said: "Our immediate concern is always for the safety and welfare of patients.

"As soon as the SAB [Safeguarding Adults Board] were made aware of these allegations at Winterbourne View... appropriate action was taken in line with established procedures and protocols."

Panorama's Undercover Care: The Abuse Exposed was broadcast on BBC One on Tuesday 31 May at 2100 BST and is available to view in the UK on the BBC iPlayer.

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