Press release: NHS Confederation comment on health and social care inspectorates concerns about learning disability services
05 Jul 2006
Dr Gill Morgan, chief executive of the NHS Confederation which represents over 90 per cent of NHS organisations, said:
"It is of utmost importance that all people who come into contact with the NHS and social services, especially the most vulnerable, are treated with dignity and respect.
"Today's report by the Healthcare Commission presents some serious issues for both the NHS and social services in the care of people with learning disabilities.
"Whilst it is very easy to get public interest in new technologies and drugs, it is much harder to find advocates for these services. Yet a comprehensive health service must provide appropriate care for everyone. This is a wake-up call that over-emphasis on the new can remove focus from people who need care.
"We recognise that learning disability services face significant challenges. Quality, availability and coverage of these services vary greatly across the country. Levels of training and qualification among staff remain low, with shortages of key professionals and care staff.
"The NHS Confederation will work with our members, the Healthcare Commission and our colleagues in local government to raise the standard of care for the one million people in England who have a learning disability."
ENDS
Notes for editors
1. The NHS Confederation represents more than 90% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
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