Unfortunately the story continues now the festive period is behind us. Mencap, one of the leading UK charities which support people with learning difficulties, investigated this serious accusation and has revealed findings of 74 individual patients who lost their lives due to poor care.
After raising concerns to parliament Mencap have recently reported Ann Abraham, the parliamentary and health ombudsman, has confirmed four of the deaths could have easily been avoided, a further eight cases was found to have serious failings.
The NHS is being blamed for the distressing figures and David Congdon, head of campaigns and policy, has questioned the lack of knowledge the health care has when it comes to treating those with various forms of learning disabilities.
To support Congdon’s claim you only have to look at the aforementioned 74 patients (all of which had a learning difficulty), a percentage of them were misdiagnosed, denied healthcare, left in chronic pain, deprived of vital medication and in some cases, brushed aside because NHS staff believed their lives weren’t worth saving.
Paul Burstow is the Department of Health’s care service minister, he made a statement yesterday (2 January 2012) which promised a substantial improvement to how people with learning disabilities will be treated.
Burstow said, "We have extended the contract for a government-funded confidential inquiry into the premature and avoidable death of people with learning disabilities. We are also funding a specific public health observatory focusing on improving healthcare for people with learning disabilities. Those providing care – whether NHS, charity or private sector – have a duty to make sure that care is high quality and safe."
NHS have taken into account the issues which have been raised and have pledged to improve the services they provide for those with mental health issues.
