Margaret Flynn

Warning: Health 'choices' can kill.

The White Paper Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century, is shaped by the principles of Legal and Civil Rights, Independence, Choice and Inclusion. These principles are laudable, but this paper argues that in matters of health that are not within the experiences of adults with learning disabilities, a duty of care should override the elusive mantra of ‘choice’.

‘Please don't let it Happen on my Shift!’ Supporting Staff who are Caring for People with Learning Disabilities who are Dying

This paper reports some preliminary lessons from a qualitative study of services that have cared for a person with learning disabilities during a terminal illness. It reflects current concern about access to health care as well as the national priority being placed on improvements in cancer services for all patients. The study documents how the service learned of the persons illness, how they mobilised services and made decisions, how agencies worked together (or not!) and what support staff needed in the persons last months and weeks. It also considers the way staff, as individuals and as teams, made sense of their experiences and evaluated the input of other professionals.

Winterbourne View Hospital: a glimpse of the legacy

Purpose – This paper concerns the fall‐out from a TV programme which exposed the arbitrariness of cruelty at a private hospital that purported to provide assessment, treatment and rehabilitation to adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health problems. The paper seeks to address the issues involved.Design/methodology/approach – It describes the principal findings of a Serious Case Review which was commissioned after the TV broadcast, and outlines some of the activities designed to reduce the likelihood of such abuses recurring.Findings – From policy, commissioning, regulation, management, service design and practice perspectives, events at Winterbourne View Hospital highlight a gulf between professionals, professionals and their organisations, and leadership shortcomings.Originality/value – The English government responded promptly and encouragingly to the wretched circumstances of patients at Winterbourne View Hospital with a “Timetable of Actions”. The Serious Case Review which was commis...

The palliative care experiences of adults with learning disabilities/intellectual disability: The implications for ethical decision making?

This paper presents some of the ethical challenges facing services supporting adults with learning disabilities/intellectual disability with life-limiting conditions and arises from a qualitative investigation of the preparation for, and responses to their deaths. The study highlights the problems and differential responses of health and social care professionals to consent and ostensible treatment refusal and gives rise to concern that the principles promoting peoples choices are in danger of being distorted to justify giving up too soon or too easily. The paper presents ideas about how health and social care professionals might work toward better

Update on adult safeguarding

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an update for readers on recent issues relating to adult safeguarding, together with signposting of papers in this issue of the journal. Design/methodology/approach – A review of recent media, news and policy related items was undertaken and key findings are reported. Findings – A range of findings and information pertinent to adult safeguarding is presented in the paper for readers to consider. Practical implications – Some of the issues and perspectives presented in the paper may be of relevance for professional practice and readers may wish to disseminate such aspects to colleagues in order to inform practice initiatives. Originality/value – The paper provides an update and overview of recent topics that are linked to adult safeguarding and protection and draws these together in an accessible format.