Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / BERKSHIRE
Graphics Version | Change to International Version | BBC Sport Home
News Front Page | World | UK | England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | Business | Politics | Health | Education | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Video and Audio | Programmes | Have Your Say | Magazine |
20:04 GMT, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 21:04 UK

Minister quizzed on care report

Emma Kemp

A Berkshire MP has questioned the public health minister about a report on the treatment of people with learning difficulties in the NHS.

The independent inquiry into the deaths of six patients - including Emma Kemp, from Berkshire - called for tougher inspections and more staff training.

But the July report said new laws to ensure equal access were not needed.

Richard Benyon, MP for Newbury, raised the report with minister Dawn Primarolo MP in a House of Commons debate.

Mr Benyon said: "There is a long way to go before this matter is resolved but the families have great support not just from Mencap but from many MPs from different parties."

"Time is one of the most important things, you just can't go into a doctor's surgery in the normal five-minute slot"
Jane Kemp, Emma's mother

A spokeswoman for Mr Benyon's Commons office said the minister "promised to publish their reaction to the report as part of the review of "Valuing People" - an ongoing strategy document for the NHS".

The document is due to be published on 24 October, along with the findings of a separate investigation by the Health Service Ombudsman into all six cases.

Jane Kemp, Emma's mother, who has been campaigning to change the NHS by talking to trainee doctors and nurses, went to Parliament on Wednesday.

"They need to spend time with people like Emma," she told BBC News.

"Time is one of the most important things, you just can't go into a doctor's surgery in the normal five-minute slot."

The July inquiry, chaired by Sir Jonathan Michael, a former chief executive of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, was established following the "Death by indifference" report by the charity Mencap.

Published in March 2007, it revealed Emma Kemp was given a 50% chance of survival after a cancer diagnosis but was not treated immediately after doctors said she would not co-operate.

Sir Jonathan said that existing guidelines and laws - such as the Disability Discrimination Act - aimed at ensuring people with learning disabilities got equal treatment - were not being followed.

Learning disability charities have welcomed the report.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Disabled 'face suffering in NHS' (29 Jul 08 |  Health )
Learning disability deaths probe (12 Mar 07 |  Health )
'The NHS failed my daughter' (12 Mar 07 |  Health )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Inquiry website
Mencap's report
Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
Department of Health
Disability Rights Commission
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | World | UK | England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | Business | Politics | Health | Education | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Video and Audio | Programmes | Have Your Say | Magazine |

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©