Protect those most in need

5.48.37am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 4th Oct 2005

Liberal Democrat Councillor Alan Dowden has highlighted neglect of those in care

The Southampton Daily Echo has reported efforts by Liberal Democrat county councillors to ensure that vulnerable adults get the care they need and deserve. The front page story in the Daily Echo on 30th September read as follows:

ABUSED BY THOSE THEY TRUSTED

Hundreds of vulnerable adults in Hampshire are being abused by people they trusted the most. The number of cases of reported abuse has more than doubled in the past twelve months from 191 to 425 and HCC's Director of Adult Services admitted that figure is likely to increase further.

The recommendation with the report was just to note it. But Cllr Alan Dowden the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson and his Liberal Democrat colleagues were not prepared to accept that situation and insisted that a small number of the committee members meet with officers and other interested parties to seek further preventative measures in order to eradicate such abuse and report back to the committee their recommendations.

Examples of abuse were elderly people suffering pressure sores because they were not being turned in bed , having their skin torn while being manhandled, and residents in a nursing home having there hands tied while staff washed them. One women in her 80's who is suffering from dementia, was repeatedly raped by two relatives in her own own home. Cllr. Dowden said: This is a sad reflection on society that this sort of abuse is happening.