Planning delays alleged in Cornwall

Campaigners have claimed delays in care planning are hitting people with learning difficulties living in NHS-supported  accommodation in Cornwall following an investigation into abuse at the sites.

The investigation, published in July by the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Healthcare Commission, slammed the use of “unacceptable restrictions” on people with challenging behaviour at the sites, where 168 people are still living.

This week, Reg Broad, chair of East Cornwall Mencap, claimed that delays in planning were taking place due to “incompetence” on the part of Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust and Cornwall Council.

Carol Tozer, head of adult social care at Cornwall Council, denied the claims and said plans had been completed for 38 people in the supported living service. She added that good progress was being made in the remaining cases.

She said there was a “high level of scrutiny” on the speed of progress. David Behan, director general of social care at the Department of Health, has written to adult social services and NHS trust chiefs urging them to improve assessments for people with learning difficulties living in NHS accommodation in the wake of the Cornwall investigation.