Panorama Report May 2011
WINTERBOURNE
Panorama Report May 2011
Winterbourne View is a private hospital in Bristol that caters for people with learning difficulties and autism. Winterbourne View is owned by a company called Castlebeck who describe themselves on their website as being specialist providers of health care and support for people with learning difficulties, complex needs and challenging behaviour.
The BBC sent an undercover reporter into the hospital after being approached by a former senior nurse – Terry Bryan – who raised concerns about the support workers to his managers at Winterbourne and also the Care Quality Commission but his complaint was never taken further by either party.
The reporter carried a hidden camera and the footage showed horrendous instances of abuse towards the clients. At one time a senior member of staff was filmed encouraging a client to commit suicide by jumping out of a window. Another piece of footage shows the same senior pinning down a girl under a chair for a long period of time while another member of staff held the girl in a headlock. The senior carer was heard to say to the undercover reporter ‘ make sure you don’t have her pinched under the chair otherwise it will leave a mark ‘. This same girl was forced to have two cold showers a day and mouthwash was poured over her face. She was then locked outside the building and more cold water thrown over her. This is a clear case of physical, mental and institutional abuse.
There were several more serious abuse incidents filmed and these were shown on a Panorama programme which led to public outrage that this abuse is happening in a place where vulnerable people are expected to be
Panorama Report May 2011
Winterbourne View is a private hospital in Bristol that caters for people with learning difficulties and autism. Winterbourne View is owned by a company called Castlebeck who describe themselves on their website as being specialist providers of health care and support for people with learning difficulties, complex needs and challenging behaviour.
The BBC sent an undercover reporter into the hospital after being approached by a former senior nurse – Terry Bryan – who raised concerns about the support workers to his managers at Winterbourne and also the Care Quality Commission but his complaint was never taken further by either party.
The reporter carried a hidden camera and the footage showed horrendous instances of abuse towards the clients. At one time a senior member of staff was filmed encouraging a client to commit suicide by jumping out of a window. Another piece of footage shows the same senior pinning down a girl under a chair for a long period of time while another member of staff held the girl in a headlock. The senior carer was heard to say to the undercover reporter ‘ make sure you don’t have her pinched under the chair otherwise it will leave a mark ‘. This same girl was forced to have two cold showers a day and mouthwash was poured over her face. She was then locked outside the building and more cold water thrown over her. This is a clear case of physical, mental and institutional abuse.
There were several more serious abuse incidents filmed and these were shown on a Panorama programme which led to public outrage that this abuse is happening in a place where vulnerable people are expected to be