Watchdog condemns abuse response

18 July 2011 Last updated at 22:23 GMT Abuse of people living at the home was brought to light by BBC Panorama

A health watchdog has reported a "systemic failure to protect people" at a hospital where alleged abuse was secretly filmed by the BBC.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) published its findings after an inspection of Winterbourne View near Bristol.

The review was ordered after BBC Panorama filmed patients being pinned down, slapped and taunted.

Police said they had arrested a 12th person in connection with the inquiry.

The Panorama programme was contacted by whistleblower Terry Bryan who alerted the BBC with his concerns about some staff.

Mr Bryan, a senior nurse, acted after his concerns were not followed up by the home's management or the CQC.

'Appalling misconduct'

The CQC report on Winterbourne View found owners Castlebeck Care had failed to ensure residents living at the unit were adequately protected from risk, including the risks of unsafe practices by its own staff.

It said: "There was a systemic failure to protect people or to investigate allegations of abuse.

"The provider had failed in its legal duty to notify the Care Quality Commission of serious incidents including injuries to patients or occasions when they had gone missing."

Inspectors also noted staff did not appear to understand the needs of the people in their care and said "some staff were too ready to use methods of restraint without considering alternatives".

Winterbourne View was closed down in June.

The CQC's director of operations Amanda Sherlock said that, following the investigation, it was clear the abuse was far worse than they were warned of by Mr Bryan.

Winterbourne View, which had 24 patients, was closed down last month

She claimed that Castlebeck had "misled" the CQC, and if officials had known about what was taking place they "could have taken action earlier".

In response to the CQC report, Castlebeck's Chief Executive, Lee Reed, said: "We are truly sorry for the failures which led to the terrible mistreatment suffered by patients at Winterbourne View.

"As soon as the company was made aware of the appalling misconduct of staff at Winterbourne View, we alerted the police and other relevant authorities.

"We then took immediate remedial steps to safeguard the welfare of all our service users. This work is ongoing, and is our absolute priority."

The latest person to be arrested is a 27-year-old man from the South Gloucestershire area.

Police said he had been arrested under the Mental Capacity Act and had been released on police bail.

Eleven other people, eight men and three women, previously arrested remain on police bail pending further inquiries.

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Chilly response for school 'snow kits' plan

21 July 2011 Last updated at 05:45 GMT By Nick Dermody BBC Wales News Cardiff schools are being asked to buy snow kits so they can be 'resilient' when temperatures plummet Cardiff council is asking schools and community groups to buy ?1,600 "snow kits" so they can help themselves in freezing weather.

Head teachers have until Friday to put in orders for the kits - two gritting bins and a spreader machine.

A teaching union said schools do not have the spare cash while city GPs said "buckets and shovels" were cheaper.

The council said the kits would improve school and community "resilience" in bad weather "until assistance arrives".

Last winter's big freeze saw the coldest December temperatures in Cardiff for more than 100 years.

In December last year, Cardiff saw its worst snow fall since 1983 and the council's response was criticised.

The snow brought disruption to transport and services across the city and saw dozens of its 130 schools close their doors.

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Mini gritters sound like a good idea but at ?1,600 each it's unlikely that our schools will find any slack in their already stretched budgets”

End Quote Anna Brychan NAHT Cymru But the first week in January, it was gritting only principal roads in the city.

The council later held an independent review in to its response.

The review recommended the council draw up a Winter Maintenance Action Plan, including the design and costing of a "snow kit" for schools.

But the snow kits idea has received short shrift from the headteachers union NAHT Cymru.

Anna Brychan, director of the National Association of Head Teachers in Wales, said her members would have the headache of finding space for the equipment for the "360 days of the year when they would be standing idle".

She said: "Mini gritters sound like a good idea but at ?1,600 each it's unlikely that our schools will find any slack in their already stretched budgets to pay for them.

The heavy snowfall disrupted traffic across Cardiff last winter

"Most of our members spend an average of ?150 on grit to see them through the winter weather and, unless there are plans I'm unaware of to markedly boost the financial circumstances of Cardiff's schools by this Friday, then I suspect this arrangement will have to do as usual."

The snow kits ideas has also been floated to a number of community groups in the city, including GP surgeries.

BMA Cymru Wales spokesman John Jenkins said: "This proposal raises several issues. Where would these machines be housed within GP surgeries?

"Who would pay for them and would the ?1,600 be value for money? Buckets and shovels come to mind and are much cheaper."

'Safety and wellbeing'

Cardiff council said Friday's deadline was in place due to the summer holiday period.

A spokesperson said: "The action plan identifies a number of measures for improving the resilience of the council and communities to future snow events as the council want to deliver a service that robustly deals with any potential extreme weather.

"This policy is in line with the Local Government Group Civil Emergencies Strategy Document which recognised 'resilience at community level is crucial to maintaining safety and wellbeing, with communities and individuals harnessing local resources and expertise to help themselves.'"

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