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care in the uk - a disgrace

MadeInBedlam said:
MEDIA RELEASE: Timothy had multiple needs and received disconnected, unsuitable care. His family fought for a thorough inquest & crowdfunded for legal rep. But the jury today concluded Timothy died of suicide, and detailed no further failings.


Family of Timothy McComb express disappointment at traumatic and unfair process as inquest concludes
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If the poor man killed himself, what other ruling could a coroner make other than suicide? Is there a qualified version of the verdict that could direct the responsibility for his suicide to failings of those whose were responsible for his care?
 
Orang Utan said:
If the poor man killed himself, what other ruling could a coroner make other than suicide? Is there a qualified version of the verdict that could direct the responsibility for his suicide to failings of those whose were responsible for his care?
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Criticisms of the inquest are in the article:

“On the morning of 26 August 2016 Timothy was found hanging in his room. His door was open. Timothy’s family believe that his death was not an intentional suicide, but a cry for help.

Katie Siobhan, Timothy’s sister, said: “We are hugely disappointed by this conclusion. Timothy was a loving son and brother who was desperately trying to find support for his complex issues. We have fought for an Article 2 inquest, been refused public funding, forcing us to fundraise to pay for representation, face a Coroner who refused to call witnesses and even refused to let us show a photograph of Timothy, further dehumanising him.

The whole process has been frustrating and traumatic. We do not feel our concerns have been addressed. At times, we felt how Timothy must have felt, shut out and excluded, like we are invisible and that our questions didn’t matter. We now call for action for a clearer referral process and support for people like Timothy in the hope that lives will be saved.”

Anita Sharma, Senior Caseworker at INQUEST who supported the family, said: “INQUEST is increasingly contacted in relation to people with multiple needs, who are falling through the gaps between services. The NHS has long been aware of shortcomings in care for those with multiple diagnosis, yet significant numbers are left without access to treatment resulting in self-inflicted deaths without proper scrutiny of the circumstances.

It is paramount that inquests explore the full range of issues, as an opportunity to address ongoing and widespread failings. It is disappointing that the coroner is not considering a prevention of future deaths report. This is missed opportunity to protect those in similar circumstances who remain at risk.”

Sara Lyle of Minton Morrill solicitors, who represented the family said: “Part of the purpose of inquests is to ensure necessary changes are made so failings are not repeated, but families are forced to fight to make that happen. Grieving families should not be expected to deal with complicated legal processes, without legal aid to assist their representation. Particularly when public bodies have unlimited access to funds for representation. This inequality needs to urgently be addressed to support bereaved families and protect lives.”
 
I read both articles but i wasn't clear on what other verdict a coroner could reach, though i understand now they can make recommendations to prevent further deaths.
 
Orang Utan said:
I read both articles but i wasn't clear on what other verdict a coroner could reach, though i understand now they can make recommendations to prevent further deaths.
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That's it. The cause of death in itself has no bearing on whether a PFD could or should be written, as the PFD concerns itself with avoidable errors and failings that were deemed to have contributed to the death AND where these failings were of a nature such that actions can be taken to avoid a death in similar future cases. It will often, but not always specify what action needs taking, although the level of detail is often not very fine-grained.
 
Martin Dillon, who is chief executive of the Belfast trust but has yet to speak publicly about the crisis, admitted in private correspondence that "management and leadership behaviours" at his organisation required "further investigation and action".

The Co Antrim facility is at the centre of the biggest criminal adult safeguarding investigation of its kind in the north after CCTV cameras recorded staff physically assaulting patients with severe learning disabilities between March and September 2017.

A total of 19 staff - mainly nurses - have been suspended.

Belfast health trust boss admits failures in reporting Muckamore abuse to department
 
St Andrew’s Nottinghamshire, which is based in Mansfield, was rated inadequate - the lowest possible rating - following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission.

The 66-bed independent hospital for men detained under the Mental Health Act, which is also for patients with learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders, is mainly made up of offenders in the criminal justice system.

The CQC's most damning findings were that staff did not always respect people’s dignity and used inappropriate and disrespectful language in a patient's record.

The report, which was published on February 6, said: "Staff did not protect patients from avoidable harm or abuse. Managers had not ensured safe care environments. We found unidentified ligature risks on Newstead ward and an out of date ligature assessment available to staff on Thoresby ward.

"Staff were keeping patients in seclusion for longer than required. Seclusion rooms did not meet the standards in the Mental Health Act Code of Practice.

The report added: "Staff did not always treat patients with kindness or respect when providing care and treatment or during other interactions. We observed a patient being ‘pat down’ searched in front of other patients in the communal area on Thoresby ward. This was not in line with the provider’s search policy.

"A patient told us that they had witnessed a member of staff ignoring a request from a patient in seclusion for a drink."


Mental health hospital inadequate after inspectors find 'troubling' findings
 
Age UK: 50,000 elderly have died waiting for social care package
Wed 6 Feb 2019
Age UK estimated that 54,000 people – or 77 a day – have died while waiting for a care package in the 700 days since the government first said in March 2017 it would publish its social care green paper, which has since been delayed several times.

The claim came as a cross-party group of MPs warned that the government was “in denial” about the perilous state of English local authority finances – a crisis driven by a growing demand for the care of vulnerable adults and children.
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Dan U said:
will listen to this with interest. the principal of supported living is a very sound one but there are gaps in the regulation and how it is implemented.
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What do you think of western civilisation?
I think it would be a good idea.
 
I follow this particular debate with interest on twitter, blogs etc as I have a professional interest in services for adults with a disability (not as a provider)

Weve gone from big institutions being bad to residential care homes being bad to supported living now being bad.

Not sure where we go from here.

If we want people with a learning disability, mental health need and/or behaviour that challenges (to use the lovely transforming care phrase) to not be in institutions or not to be in residential care homes at risk of having notice served on them or be owned by some private equity firm then some kind of tenancy based service is an answer.

The best supported living places are specially designed, in registered social landlord or council property and if people want different support from different organisations, they should be able to have it. So if it goes wrong with the support provider you shouldn't lose your home, although this does happen and this is where cqc could be stricter on legal separation between landlord and support provider.

My worry is that lots of great services that support thousands of people will get written off due to a vocal minority of parents of people with very complex needs who, frankly, are going to challenge any service type or care provider at times.

I look forward to hearing this show on catch up tomorrow as I'm sure i will know some of the people on it from social media.
 
Dan U said:
I wouldn't write it off based on some failing parts of the system.
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Write what off? ‘Supported accommodation’ is a euphemism for quasi-institutions and the devolvement of services to private providers.

Accommodation with actual support. I’d lie that. I’ve fought to have that.

The reality of it is far from the rhetoric.
 
MadeInBedlam Can you explain what good accommodation with support looks like to you please - are there any examples you'd like to see as a minimum? There's stuff in Scandinavia and Netherlands which blends housing types and doesn't promote an 'us and them' approach to housing.

The social care Green Paper (how many days late now) probably isn't going to answer anything.
 
MadeInBedlam said:
Write what off? ‘Supported accommodation’ is a euphemism for quasi-institutions and the devolvement of services to private providers.

Accommodation with actual support. I’d lie that. I’ve fought to have that.

The reality of it is far from the rhetoric.
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can you explain what you would like to see? you mention supported accommodation which is a bit more of a MH description and quite often is in accommodation that does have very little support

I don't accept your description of Supported Living services in all cases, as these are often for LD and are different to supported accommodation. There is loads of it that is tenancy based support, delivered in peoples own homes, with security of tenure etc. Some support is delivered by private providers, some delivered by third sector providers. We in danger of baby/bathwater territory here.

the worst of the private providers, those backed by investment funds, private equity etc. aren't that interested in supported living of any kind because their is no asset to secure their large borrowings against.

Will listen to the R4 thing on way home later
 
Dan U said:
can you explain what you would like to see? you mention supported accommodation which is a bit more of a MH description and quite often is in accommodation that does have very little support

I don't accept your description of Supported Living services in all cases, as these are often for LD and are different to supported accommodation. There is loads of it that is tenancy based support, delivered in peoples own homes, with security of tenure etc. Some support is delivered by private providers, some delivered by third sector providers. We in danger of baby/bathwater territory here.

the worst of the private providers, those backed by investment funds, private equity etc. aren't that interested in supported living of any kind because their is no asset to secure their large borrowings against.

Will listen to the R4 thing on way home later
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Yeah think I got myself confused between supported accommodation and supported living. (I’ve lived in the former).

There was a lot good about it - and I wasn’t in a position to live independently at the time do it was a better option than living independently.

The overarching culture of contempt and coercion and sheer fucking disdain permeated *eveything* though.
 
MadeInBedlam said:
The overarching culture of contempt and coercion and sheer fucking disdain permeated *eveything* though.
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sorry to hear that

I do a bit in MH services and supported accommodation is woefully under funded. the levels of support on offer for people is just not good enough.
 
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