Cornwall trust faces special measures over abuse

6 Jul 06
The Cornwall Partnership NHS trust has been placed under 'special measures' following a watchdog report revealing 'many years of abusive practices' of adults with learning disabilities.

07 July 2006

The Cornwall Partnership NHS trust has been placed under 'special measures' following a watchdog report revealing 'many years of abusive practices' of adults with learning disabilities.

The abuse — which the report found included physical violence, 'outdated' and 'illegal' restraint practices and over-medication as a means of control — took place in a range of care settings commissioned by the trust, including a hospital, children's units and a number of small 'supported living' houses.

Care services minister Ivan Lewis said he was 'appalled' at the abuse detailed in the joint report by the Commission for Social Care Inspection and Healthcare Commission. In being placed under special measures, the trust will effectively be subject to external management for at least 12 months.

'The regulators have referred 40 people to Cornwall County Council's protection of vulnerable adults scheme, and these will be thoroughly investigated… by police if necessary,' said Lewis.

The report follows revelations last week of the CSCI's intention to publish quality ratings of care homes and services for adults and older people. At present, homes must meet National Minimum Standards on a range of matters such as medication practice and recruitment checks, but it is impossible for prospective residents or their families to judge how near an establishment comes to meeting the standard.

CSCI chair Dame Denise Platt said that made it hard for local people to pressurise councils to raise standards of care. The CSCI will publish a consultation paper on its plans later this month with a view to issuing the first ratings by Christmas.

But a source at the Local Government Association said they had misgivings about star-rating systems, as they gave providers an incentive to focus 'only on what is measured'.

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