Failure to commit to adult protection legislation lambasted
Overwhelming support for legislation in response to No Secrets 20 July 2009
writes Maria Ahmed
Campaigners have criticised the government's failure to commit to legislation to strengthen protection of adults from abuse in England.
Today, the Department of Health published a report on its consultation on the review of No Secrets, the adult protection guidance introduced in 2000.
More than half of respondents - 68% - supported new safeguarding legislation, and 92% wanted adult safeguarding boards to be placed on a statutory footing, it revealed.
Duty to co-operate wins 'near unanimous' support
There was also "near unanimous" support for a wider duty on agencies to co-operate in relation to safeguarding across social care, police and the NHS. The majority also backed giving agencies the power to enter premises where abuse was suspected and introducing a new offence of ill-treating or neglecting a vulnerable adult with capacity.
Liberal Democrat MP Paul Burstow, a campaigner on older people's issues, claimed the government wanted to avoid the funding implications of radically overhauling the adult protection system.
"Instead of making a policy announcement they have kicked the issue into the long grass," he said.
Burstow said he would attempt to introduce a private member's bill on adult safeguarding in the autumn.
Abridged
SOURCE: Community Care.Co.UK
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