This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-51207856

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Whorlton Hall abuse: Care watchdog wrong not to publish critical 2015 report Whorlton Hall abuse: Care watchdog wrong not to publish critical 2015 report
(31 minutes later)
The care watchdog was wrong not to publish an inspection report raising concerns about Whorlton Hall, four years before a Panorama investigation suggested alleged abuse, a review says.The care watchdog was wrong not to publish an inspection report raising concerns about Whorlton Hall, four years before a Panorama investigation suggested alleged abuse, a review says.
Former Care Quality Commission inspector Barry Stanley-Wilkinson said not publishing his 2015 report was a "missed opportunity" to prevent abuse.Former Care Quality Commission inspector Barry Stanley-Wilkinson said not publishing his 2015 report was a "missed opportunity" to prevent abuse.
Last year's undercover filming appeared to show patients with learning difficulties being mistreated.Last year's undercover filming appeared to show patients with learning difficulties being mistreated.
Ten workers were later arrested.Ten workers were later arrested.
The County Durham hospital, which has now been closed, treated patients with severe learning difficulties and autism.The County Durham hospital, which has now been closed, treated patients with severe learning difficulties and autism.
The CQC commissioned David Noble QSO to carry out an independent review into how it dealt with the concerns raised by Mr Stanley-Wilkinson's draft inspection report and how they were addressed by senior personnel.The CQC commissioned David Noble QSO to carry out an independent review into how it dealt with the concerns raised by Mr Stanley-Wilkinson's draft inspection report and how they were addressed by senior personnel.
More on this story:More on this story:
The unpublished 2015 report found the hospital, near Barnard Castle, "required improvement", raising a number of concerns, including inadequate staffing levels, a lack of training and a failure to follow patients' care plans.The unpublished 2015 report found the hospital, near Barnard Castle, "required improvement", raising a number of concerns, including inadequate staffing levels, a lack of training and a failure to follow patients' care plans.
But a subsequent report the following year gave the privately-run, NHS-funded unit an overall rating of "good".But a subsequent report the following year gave the privately-run, NHS-funded unit an overall rating of "good".
The Noble review makes seven recommendations relating to the security and availability of notes from CQC inspections, information provided to inspectors about services, and the internal whistleblowing processes of the CQC.The Noble review makes seven recommendations relating to the security and availability of notes from CQC inspections, information provided to inspectors about services, and the internal whistleblowing processes of the CQC.
It said one of the main reasons Mr Stanley-Wilkinson's report was not published was that it was considered to be "not of publishable quality" and lacked evidence to back up some of his claims. It said one of the main reasons Mr Stanley-Wilkinson's report was not published was that it was considered to be "not of publishable quality" and lacked evidence to back up some of the findings.
But Mr Stanley-Wilkinson, who later resigned from the CQC, said failure to publish his 2015 report "was a missed opportunity to potentially prevent the abusive practices that we saw in the Panorama documentary".But Mr Stanley-Wilkinson, who later resigned from the CQC, said failure to publish his 2015 report "was a missed opportunity to potentially prevent the abusive practices that we saw in the Panorama documentary".
He said: "I'm still struggling to understand why that inspection report was never published.He said: "I'm still struggling to understand why that inspection report was never published.
"The CQC has said there wasn't sufficient evidence within the report. I was never asked to make any further amendments, I was never asked to supplement the report with further evidence."The CQC has said there wasn't sufficient evidence within the report. I was never asked to make any further amendments, I was never asked to supplement the report with further evidence.
"For them to say there was insufficient evidence within the report, that wasn't the responsibility of just my managers to make that decision, it was the responsibility of a quality panel to make that decision."For them to say there was insufficient evidence within the report, that wasn't the responsibility of just my managers to make that decision, it was the responsibility of a quality panel to make that decision.
"But it never went to a quality panel.""But it never went to a quality panel."
Whorlton Hall had at least 100 visits by official agencies in the year before the abuse was discovered.Whorlton Hall had at least 100 visits by official agencies in the year before the abuse was discovered.
A separate review of the CQC's regulation of the hospital between 2015 and 2019 has yet to be published.A separate review of the CQC's regulation of the hospital between 2015 and 2019 has yet to be published.
Cygnet, the firm that ran the 17-bed hospital unit, said it was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the abuse allegations.Cygnet, the firm that ran the 17-bed hospital unit, said it was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the abuse allegations.