Response to Health Ombudsman's report
National Voices, the organisation established by and for the national voluntary organisations representing users of health and social care in England, has welcomed the Health Ombudsman recommendation for all health and social care agencies to review the systems they have in place for making sure the needs of people with learning disabilities are met.
An investigation was carried out by the Health Ombudsman into the deaths of six people with learning disabilities after they were highlighted by the charity Mencap. The Ombudsman said there was sufficient policy and guidance available, but agencies were not following it and, as a result, were in breach of human rights and disability discrimination laws.
Mark Platt, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, National Voices said: “The Ombudsman has revealed the divide between health and social care services which has clearly left people with learning disabilities at a deadly disadvantage. We have an NHS Constitution for healthcare setting out patients’ rights, but no equivalent for social care. In other areas social care leads the way - the government’s personalisation agenda is further ahead in social care than it is in healthcare. We hope that the Care Quality Commission with its broader role that covers health and social care regulation will be able to address these issues, particularly where the welfare of the vulnerable in our society is concerned.”
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Notes to editors:
National Voices is the new umbrella organisation established by and for the national voluntary organisations representing users of health and social care in England to give them a stronger voice in policy-making. National Voices works with policy-makers in Westminster and Whitehall to make sure that the voices of patients, carers and service users are heard and that their diverse needs and preferences are genuinely placed at the heart of policy development. In doing this National Voices will ensure that the views of the people who use health and social care services are heard by the people who shape and provide those services.
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Julian Tyndale-Biscoe, InHealth Communications, on 07882 985597 (julian.tb@inhealthcomms.com)
