Care home abuse

Carers employed by Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust persistently abused a blind and deaf man with a low IQ by tying him up for 16 hours a day according to a report undertaken by the Healthcare Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

The Commissions report detailed widespread institutional abuse of 200 people with learning disabilities living at a treatment centre in Falmouth and in 46 houses around Cornwall. The investigation centred on Budock Hospital near Falmouth.

Following a complaint in 2003 by a member of staff at Budock Hospital that patients were being physically and psychologically abused on its Lamorna ward, an investigation was carried out by the NHS. Although improvements were ordered Mencap (the leading UK charity campaigning for equal rights for children and adults with learning disabilities) persuaded the government to investigate.

The investigation found over 64 incidents of abuse over the 5 years leading to October 2005. All patients were abused but two were targeted frequently. Some of the worst abuse occurred outside the hospital, in houses were up to 4 people lived with support from NHS carers. The inspectors said that more than two thirds of the houses placed unacceptable restrictions on their residents.

The inspectors have recently written to Patricia Hewitt, the Health Secretary, asking her to put Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust under special measures for a year.

Do you have a claim? If you or someone you know has been affected by abuse in a care home in Cornwall or anywhere else in the country then you may benefit from advice of a specialist lawyer. Irwin Mitchell has experience in handling cases involving institutional abuse and claims against the NHS. Use our online claims form to get free advice.