Horror of private care abuse exposed

Independent expert Margaret Flynn's report detailed hundreds of incidents of restraint and dozens of assaults on patients at the private home in Hambrook, South Gloucestershire.

Dr Flynn's report condemned the firm for putting profitability before care.

Carers union GMB warned that the abuse uncovered was "just the tip of the iceberg."

The union's national health officer Rehana Azam said: "They keep saying that lessons have been learnt but privatisation within the NHS is continuing on a day-by-day basis, which will always put profit before people."

The report slammed health regulators, local health services, the police and the owners Castlebeck Ltd for failing to act on warnings that institutional abuse was being carried out by staff.

The serious case review was launched after staff were filmed abusing patients by a BBC Panorama documentary crew.

Eleven former staff members have subsequently pleaded guilty to a total of 38 charges of torture and abuse of their patients who had been slapped, doused in water and pinned to the floor. They will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court at a later date.

Dr Flynn's report said patients had been traumatised by the experience and that the scandal showed the dangers of closed institutions.

And campaigners warned that unless the government takes action more Winterbourne Views are on the horizon.

Disability Rights UK's Sue Bott said she feared that far more abuse goes unidentified and unreported.

And Mencap and the Challenging Behaviour Foundation charities warned that moving people hundreds of miles away from their families increased the risk of abuse taking place.

They called for the closure of large institutions caring for people with mental disabilities and said they should be looked after near their own homes.

South Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board chairman Peter Murphy has expressed "deep regret" at the events that took place.

And medical director of NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Andrew Havers said that "significant measures" have been taken to ensure better standards of adult protection.

The £3,500-a-week 24-bed care home has been closed by Castlebeck since the Panorama expose.