‘Dementia link to sudden low blood pressure and dizziness’
October 13, 2024
Nearly half of the care home and treatment centres for adults with learning disabilities in England inspected by the Care Quality Commission failed to meet the required standards in respect of the care they provided to patients, the welfare of the patients, and their safety from abuse. The patients are not being adequately protected according to the report.
The CQC inspectors carried out 150 unannounced inspections that looked at two government standards, one related to care and welfare, and the other related to safeguarding, that is the protection of people’s health and wellbeing, so they can live free from harm.
The CQC found that 48% of the premises, which they inspected did not meet the required standards. Only 35 places out of the 145 inspected met the required standards with no concerns. Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said the Government was taking steps to improve the situation outlined in the CQC’s report, and said “there is compelling evidence that some people with learning disabilities are being failed by health and care services”.
There was a clear issue over the use of restraints, and the conclusions of the CQC were that there had to be less use of restraints and that staff need more training about what are the appropriate ways of restraining patients. In addition the CQC were critical of the failure to treat residents as individuals and found that people were staying for years in centres which are intended for use for short-term care. The CQC felt that failure to meet the required standards was a direct result of care that is not centred on the individual or tailored to their needs.
Their findings showed that some assessment and treatment services were admitting people for long spells of time, and it was taking too long to arrange their discharge and return to the community. The CQC inspectors have returned to 34 services where they found the most serious concerns, and these services have provided the CQC with action plans on how they will meet the required Government standards.