Press release: Mental Health Network responds to the Healthcare Commission's learning disabilities audit

03 Dec 2007

Commenting on the report by the Healthcare Commission, Steve Shrubb, the director of the NHS Confederation's Mental Health Network which represents the majority of mental health trusts, said:

"This report is sobering reading for all those who run services for people with learning difficulties. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect so providing services that are simply safe can not be acceptable.

"The report is clear that everyone needs to raise their game. We will be particularly keen to continue to work on improving the way that local services and NHS organisations work together to provide care that is properly centred on people's needs.

"This is a wider issue than specific learning disability services. People with learning difficulties are much less likely to access the right healthcare across the NHS. Turning this around must be the responsibility of all relevant parties if we are to truly deliver enduring change."

Notes for editors

The Mental Health Network represents the majority of mental health trusts. It was launched in spring 2007 to provide a distinct voice for providers of NHS mental health services.

The NHS Confederation represents more than 95% 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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