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Care Regulator Admits Failings in Learning Disability Inspections
25 Jun
Summary
- Regulator admits insufficient inspections of learning disability care.
- Families report negligent care, leading to nine deaths since 2016.
- Prosecutions for negligent care providers remain extremely low.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC), England's health and social care regulator, has admitted to failing to inspect care companies for people with learning disabilities frequently enough. This revelation follows an ITV News investigation uncovering systemic issues and multiple family allegations of negligent care.
Since 2016, the CQC has prosecuted only 11 providers concerning the care of individuals with learning disabilities, despite hundreds of families reporting neglect. Nine deaths have been linked to such care, including a man starved to death and another who choked due to unattended carers.
Chris Badger, CQC's Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, stated that increasing inspections is his 'number one priority.' While inspections have risen, he acknowledges further improvement is needed. Families, like Julie Bennett whose sister Sally Lewis died due to neglect that was not timely prosecuted, feel denied justice.
Voyage Care, a provider where a resident named Adam allegedly suffered assault and chemical burns, has also faced scrutiny. Despite the provider's 'Good' CQC rating, inspections have been infrequent, raising concerns about ongoing oversight and accountability within the sector.
