CQC statement on conviction of all 11 defendants

6 August 2012

Dame Jo Williams, chair of the Care Quality Commission said:

“This prosecution sends out a clear message that care staff who abuse vulnerable people will be charged and brought before the courts.  

“There is a responsibility on all of us to report such behaviour so that firm action can be taken to protect people and, when the evidence is there, to prosecute those responsible.  

“We are committed to do all we can to protect vulnerable people – and we apologise to patients at Winterbourne View, and their families, for our failure do so quickly enough in this case.

“Following a thorough internal review, we have made changes to strengthen our processes and to ensure that we are better placed to prevent abuse.   

1. We have made it easier for people to raise concerns with us and we have set up a specialist team to deal with whistleblowers and to ensure that we follow up all allegations.  All inspectors have received additional training in this. 
2. In response to this case, inspectors have made unannounced inspections of 150 services for people with learning disabilities and where we found concerns, we have already taken action.
3. We recognise that hospitals like Winterbourne View are high risk institutions.  We will respond swiftly and appropriately whenever concerns are raised.   

“We will have more to say on CQC’s role in this case - and the steps we have taken since - when the serious case review, examining the role of all the agencies involved, is published shortly. 

“It is important to be clear that CQC alone cannot prevent abuse:  it needs constant vigilance by all of us to report concerns and protect vulnerable people. We are grateful to Terry Bryan for his persistence in bringing this into the open.”