The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) has welcomed an update report by the Department of Health (DH) on its progress towards improving care for people with learning disabilities, but is pointing out there is still more to be done.

Dr Jane Martin, Local Government Ombudsman said:

“We welcome the report and the progress made in recent years to improve health and social care for people with learning disabilities, especially the positive attitude of care staff and the increased involvement of the people themselves, and their families and carers, in decision making.

“However, any instance of a person being disadvantaged because of their disability is one too many, and we are still finding these in our casework. For example, we recently reported that Essex County Council failed to safeguard the welfare of a young man with learning disabilities who suffered serious injuries at a care home it funded to look after him.

“It is also clear in the report that people are still finding the complaints process difficult. It can be confusing for the public to know where to turn to when services go wrong, and we have been actively arguing for a simplification of the current system.”

DH’s Six Lives Progress Report, is published in response to the LGO and Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s (PHSO) joint report from 2009 entitled Six Lives: The provision of public services to people with learning disabilities. This report told the story of six people with learning disabilities who were failed by health and social care services, resulting in prolonged suffering and inappropriate care.

Article date: 12 July 2013