• To reflect on common types of abuse experienced by people with learning disabilities in health and social care settings
• To understand why the care of people with learning disabilities continues to break down despite numerous inquiries into failings and abuse
• To appreciate the commitments needed to address the suboptimal care of people with learning disabilities
In May 2019 a scandal about the care of people with learning disabilities emerged when the BBC broadcast secret footage of abuse perpetrated at Whorlton Hall, a specialist unit for vulnerable adults. This was another case in a list of abuse in care settings for people with learning disabilities, including systematic abuse uncovered at Ely Hospital in 1967 and Winterbourne View in 2011. This article reflects on the parallels that can be drawn between the cases at Ely Hospital, Winterbourne View and Whorlton Hall, suggests explanations for these recurrent patterns of abuse and makes recommendations for how to address them.
Learning Disability Practice. 23, 6, 32-39. doi: 10.7748/ldp.2020.e2049
Correspondence Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software
Conflict of interestNone declared
PermissionTo reuse this article or for information about reprints and permissions, please contact permissions@rcni.com
Write for usFor information about writing for RCNi journals, contact writeforus@rcni.com
For author guidelines, go to rcni.com/writeforus
or
Alternatively, you can purchase access to this article for the next seven days. Buy now
Are you a student? Our student subscription has content especially for you.
Find out more
