A new offence of corporate neglect

Care charities have lined up to support a proposed new law to hold care providers from all sectors – including charities – criminally accountable for neglect and abuse in hospitals and care homes.

Former care services minister Paul Burstow introduced a new Bill in Parliament yesterday that would amend the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to include a new offence of corporate neglect.  It attempts to ensure that abuse of the kind suffered by residents of the notorious Winterbourne View care home can never happen again.

Under the Bill, corporate bodies – whether private sector corporations, public sector entities, or charities – would face unlimited fines, remedial orders and publicity orders.  Such penalties mirror the sanctions introduced in the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007.