Gary FitzGerald, Chief Executive of Action on Elder Abuse (AEA) said, ‘While the Department of Health may have held numerous listening events in order to prepare this document, they have obviously not been hearing what has been said to them. It is crucial for the protection of adults at risk of abuse that we have robust systems in place, which are appropriately funded, and which have the necessary legal powers and duties to ensure genuine protection. It is crucial that the Government integrates the safeguarding of adults into their new policy of personalisation if they are to avoid the abandonment of people in very vulnerable circumstances. If Scotland can understand these issues it is unacceptable that Westminster cannot do so.’

 

In recent years there have been numerous high profile cases of extreme abuse, (including Margaret Panting in Sheffield, Stephen Hoskin in Cornwall, the Hounslow ‘duty of care’ case, and the failings in the South Tyneside sheltered housing situation). They receive either no reference or just a passing reference in the consultation document, although they are crucial to understanding why the systems established under guidance are failing to adequately protect.  

 

Continued FitzGerald, ‘This review is crucial to the protection of adults at risk of the most horrendous abuses. The Government cannot afford to get it wrong, and must not use it to promote other policies, such as personalisation. While the current system involves many practitioners who are hard working and dedicated to the protection of adults facing abuse, they are hampered by a lack of clarity on local governance, lack of powers to intervene, lack of funding, and the failure of agencies to share information and to work together. If both AEA and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) have concluded that this situation needs a legislative response, it is difficult to understand the Government’s reticence. While they prevaricate on these matters, the system continues to fail, and adults (like Margaret Panting and Stephen Hoskin) continue to suffer and in some cases die.’

 

AEA are calling on the Government to introduce legislation for:

 

 

Concluded FitzGerald, ‘The argument is not complex. We know from child protection and domestic violence experiences that legislation is needed to ensure that protection works effectively. We even know it from animal protection too. If the Government understood the need, and found time last year, to introduce the Animal Welfare Act, it is not unreasonable to ask why they can’t do at least as much for adults experiencing abuse. Like most people, I like kittens and puppies. But are they really more important than our old people?’

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