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Learning disability care 'poor'

03/12/2007

Inpatient healthcare services for people with learning disabilities are poor and vary widely across the country, a damning report has concluded today.

The Healthcare Commission study says sweeping and sustained changes are needed to improve what it described as neglected services.

Its investigation, the first audit of specialist inpatient healthcare services for people with learning difficulties, followed a study into these services in Cornwall in 2006 which found cases of abuse in some centres and ill-treatment by staff.

Today's national report did not find problems on the same scale but the Healthcare Commission has made 2,548 recommendations to improve aspects of care.

Among the problems identified include insufficient attention being paid to safeguard vulnerable people across all aspects of their care.

Services were not found to be adequately monitored by the organisations that commission them and care was poorly planned without the input of those needing help.

The Healthcare Commission also found a lack of stimulating activities and opportunities, with little chance for people to develop friendships and relationships.

Anna Walker, Healthcare Commission chief executive, said today's report "paints a bleak picture".

"Services for people with learning difficulties are not generally unsafe but they are poor. These services are regularly neglected and too often old-fashioned and institutional," she added.

"I want to be clear that there are many members of staff working hard for the people they serve. But they operate in a system where too many people are not given choices and control over their lives. Care is not personalised, living environments are poor and activities are few."

Following on from the report's findings, the health watchdog announced that services are required to develop action plans to address the recommendations and strategic health authorities have been asked to monitor their implementation.

A series of spot-checks will also be undertaken to ensure improvements are made and the commission plans to work with people to collect systematically information on the performance of services for people with learning difficulties, which it will also use in the annual health check of NHS trusts.

Dame Jo Williams, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, described the lack of attention to the needs of each individual found in the report as "deeply shocking".

"Institutional care breeds isolation and can lead to abuse of some of our most vulnerable citizens," she added.

"It is essential that follow-up audits are conducted frequently by the new regulator for health and social care and that each service provider introduces processes that ensure high quality services day-in-day-out. Immediate action must be taken to make sure that poor care for people with a learning disability is stamped out."