Report slams hospital failings after abuse claims

A report into allegations of abuse at a specialist hospital identified "systematic failures" by its owners on Monday after a damning media investigation led to its closure. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said Castlebeck Care (Teesdale) Ltd failed to protect patients and investigate claims of abuse at Winterbourne View, near Bristol. The report came as police said on Monday that they had arrested a 12th person in connection with the inquiry into abuse and mistreatment of patients at the residential home for vulnerable adults. It said the company neglected its legal duty to inform the commission of serious incidents at the hospital, including patients being injured or going missing. The findings follow an inspection of Winterbourne View, which the commission subsequently closed down in June, after an undercover investigation by the BBC's Panorama uncovered serious abuse there. The footage, filmed after a whistleblower alerted the programme, showed patients apparently being pinned down, slapped and taunted by staff. Amanda Sherlock, CQC’s director of operations, said: “This report is a damning indictment of the regime at Winterbourne View and its systemic failings to protect the vulnerable people in its care. “It is now clear that the problems at Winterbourne View were far worse than were initially indicated by the whistleblower." She said the commission was considering further legal action against Castlebeck. Inspectors said the care provider had failed to ensure that people living at Winterbourne View were adequately protected from risk, including the risk of unsafe practices by its own staff. Staff did not appear to understand the needs of the people in their care, who were adults with learning disabilities, complex needs and challenging behaviour, the report said. People were recruited who had no background in care services without always checking their references, while staff were not trained or supervised properly. Some staff were too ready to use methods of restraint without considering alternatives, the report said. Castlebeck apologised after the Panorama programme and said it was "deeply distressed by the completely unacceptable and appalling behaviour of a small number of our employees at one of our facilities. "Such behaviour will not be tolerated, and we are very sorry." The CQC has reviewed and inspected all the services provided by Castlebeck Care (Teesdale) Ltd at its 24 locations and will publish the results of the review at the end of July. A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Police said: "A 27-year-old man from the South Gloucestershire area has been arrested under the Mental Capacity Act and released on police bail pending further inquiries. "Eleven other people eight men and three women, who have already been arrested by police remain on police bail, pending further inquiries."