A charity has called for a review of a controversial learning disability hospital where staff abused patients to be made public.
The National Autistic Society (NAS) says it is in the public interest for the report on Muckamore Abbey, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, to be out in the open.
“Shocking and devastating” abuse must never happen again: Shirelle Stewart of the NAS
Reports suggest that between 2014 and 2017 staff assaulted five vulnerable patients.
In the past year the hospital has suspended up to 13 staff following allegations of ill-treatment.
Unreserved apologies
Police are investigating the allegations. But the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, which runs the hospital, has apologised unreservedly to patients and families.
Dr Margaret Flynn is reported to be leading the independent NHS review into Muckamore Abbey.
Flynn led the investigation into Winterbourne View. This was the private hospital near Bristol at the centre of abuse that a BBC Panorama documentary exposed in 2011.
One-in-four chance of harm
Flynn has reportedly described Muckamore as a “high-risk setting” where patients had a one-in-four chance of coming to harm.
The trust is planning to share Flynn’s report with family members.
But a spokesperson said it cannot indicate at this stage whether the public will be given access to the report because it is “still in draft”.
Shirelle Stewart is the Northern Ireland director of the NAS.
She called the “litany of abuse” at the hospital “shocking and devastating”.
Muckamore Abbey report ‘needs to be public’
She added: “The report into Muckamore Abbey needs to be made public and families of vulnerable people and, indeed, wider society needs assurance that this never happens again.”
In a statement the trust said it is working with families, staff and other stakeholders. The aim was to ensure the “voices of patients, family carers, advocates and others are part of the future arrangements in Muckamore”.
Related:
- Huge surge in hospitals using restraint
- Safeguards over care ‘falling over’
- Commissioner to investigate secure units
- Centre pins patients down 600 times
- Institutional care promises ignored
Published: 16 October 2018
