BBC Panorama – RCN statement

Published: 14 June 2011

Commenting on the BBC Panorama programme, Undercover Care: The Abuse Exposed

Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said:

 “The sickening abuse revealed in this programme is more shocking than anything we could have imagined. Physical or verbal abuse of any patient is totally unacceptable, but what makes these events particularly disturbing is that they were carried out against some of the most vulnerable people in society.

 “All of the individuals involved in abusing patients, and the registered nurses who appeared to condone it, must be held to account as a matter of urgency. Without wishing to prejudice an investigation by the police it appears that these actions could be criminal. The Employers of these people must also be held to account.

 “There is an urgent need to investigate failures in the system which have contributed to leaving these vulnerable people betrayed. It is apparent from the programme that there was a failure on the part of the CQC to act when Terry Bryan took it upon himself to bring forward his concerns. The government must also examine the issue of regulating healthcare assistants as well as their training - it cannot be right that there are no national standards for those caring for vulnerable patients.

 “It is vitally important that staff are given a safe route to speak up about poor patient care, and that their concerns are listened to and acted upon. This clearly did not happen in this case and it is deeply disturbing that it has taken undercover filming to reveal these shocking lapses in standards.”