Local government ombudsman, Jerry White, has called on councils to urgently review care services for people with learning difficulties, in a critical report into the deaths of six people. Six lives, published jointly with the health service ombudsman, Ann Abraham, revealed ‘significant and distressing failures' in six social care and health services cases highlighted by the charity Mencap. The ombudsmen have set a 12-month timetable for local authorities, councils and health organisations to assess if they are meeting the full range of needs of people with learning disabilities in their areas. Mr White singled out Havering LBC for failures which led to the death of 30-year-old Mark Cannon, who suffered from epilepsy and had severe learning difficulties but died after falling and breaking his leg. Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospital NHS Trust and the council were found guilty of maladministration and causing injustice to Mr Cannon's parents because of failures to investigate their complaints, and were each told to make payments of £20,000 in compensation. One of the investigations cleared Buckinghamshire CC, and Gloucestershire CC has accepted criticism of its care services.
