In the news
News Archive
March 2009
A massive agenda for change
March 2009
Service users are key to reform of adult social care, says Peter Beresford.
Recent reporting about social work and social care has understandably been heavily focused on children's services. Yet the need for radical reform in adult provision is also recognised by government. What is less clear, however, is how the transformation that is wanted is actually going to be achieved and what it will ultimately look like if the government's goal of "personalisation" - customised support - is to be realised.
Peter Beresford, The Guardian, Wednesday March 25th 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2009/mar/25/social-care-service-users
Investigation reveals appalling neglect by NHS of people with learning disabilities
March 2009
• Report says appropriate care was not provided
• Cases include man who starved in hospital
John Carvel, Social Affairs Editor, The Guardian, Tuesday March 24th 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/mar/24/learning-disability-neglect-nhs
Learning disabled 'failed by NHS'
March 2009
NHS and social services in England are failing to meet the health needs of people with learning disabilities, investigators say.
The Health Service and Local Government Ombudsmen said the standard of care was an "indictment of our society" after reviewing the deaths of six people. They found one man died as a result of failings in his care, while a second death could have been avoided.
Nick Triggle, Health Reporter, BBC News, Tuesday March 24th 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7959730.stm
Anger over care for son who died
March 2009
The father of a severely disabled man has said his son "died an agonizing and unnecessary death" because of the shortcomings in his health care.
Tom Wakefield, from Cheltenham, had multiple and severe learning disabilities and died at the age of 20.
BBC News, Tuesday March 24th 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/7960135.stm
NHS is failing patients with learning disabilities, regulators say
March 2009
The National Health Service is failing people with learning disabilities, according to a report published today on the deaths of six disabled patients.
Regulators blame hospitals and local authorities for “significant and distressing failures” that led to the six patients receiving inadequate care because of their disabilities.
Rosemary Bennett, Social Affairs Correspondent, Tuesday March 24th 2009
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article5965336.ece
