Hospital at centre of Cornwall abuse investigation to close

Budock Hospital in Cornwall, which was at the centre of an investigation into abuse of people with learning difficulties, is to close.

Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust has confirmed that Cornwall Council plans to move service users into “more suitable accommodation” by the end of December.

Abuse at the hospital was detailed in an investigation by the Healthcare Commission and Commission for Social Care Inspection, which resulted in 40 referrals under protection of vulnerable adults procedures.

Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust said the plans to move service users had been in progress before the investigation started.

Reg Broad, chair of East Cornwall Mencap, which sparked the investigation, said he was concerned that service users being moved out of Budock were not getting enough advocacy support.

He also said the council needed to ensure families were fully involved in assessing people’s needs.