I am horrified by the abuse, neglect and inhumane treatment detailed in the Muckamore Inquiry report. My thoughts are with those who have been subjected to the abuse, the autistic people, neurodivergent people, disabled people, and people with a mental illness who have endured years of suffering. I also commend the families and carers who fought tirelessly to have their voices heard, and the journalists who supported the pursuit of truth.
I welcome the Health Minister's commitment to implementing the Inquiry’s recommendations across health and social care, work needs to proceed at pace to introduce a Statutory Duty of Candour, to strengthen safeguarding training, and to ensure robust protections for whistle-blowers leading to a culture were speaking up leads to action. It is also vital that work progresses to embed the Being Human Framework across health care systems to promote a relational, person-centred ethos and the cultural changes necessary to ensure that this is not allowed to happen again.
As Mental Health Champion, I am compelled to highlight the broader systemic failures and cultures of inhumane and dehumanising treatment documented by the inquiry that were allowed to emerge and persist. The uncomfortable truth is that these issues do not exist in isolation. We must confront the reality that physical force and restrictive practices are still used in some settings to control and exercise power over vulnerable people, including children in health, social care, and some educational settings. Too many disabled people, neurodivergent people and people with a mental illness are living in institutions, sometimes at a distance from their loved ones, and even overseas. Parents and carers are terrified about what will happen when they are no longer able to advocate for their loved ones. Meanwhile, the pay and conditions of many social care workers remain among the poorest across our public services, undermining recruitment, retention and the delivery of compassionate care.
The Executive's Programme for Government recognises the high levels of trauma that exist within our post-conflict society and commits to embedding trauma-informed and responsive systems. Yet there is still limited evidence that trauma-informed practice has become embedded across our institutions and public services. A trauma-informed approach requires us to realise the widespread impact of trauma across the lifespan; recognise the signs and effects of trauma in individuals, families and communities; respond by integrating this understanding into policies, procedures and service delivery; and resist re-traumatisation by ensuring that our systems do not cause further harm. In a trauma informed society everyone recognises what psychological safety and belonging looks and feels like, and people, particularly leaders, are able to reflect upon how their words, behaviour and policies impact on people who are vulnerable and marginalised.
The lessons of Muckamore need to extend far beyond one hospital. They challenge all of us to examine the cultures, assumptions and social hierarchies, that shape how vulnerable people are treated. They should challenge the leaders, across all Government Departments, to reflect on how they can contribute to the changes that are necessary. If this is truly to be a watershed moment, then trauma-informed practice must move from aspiration to implementation. Only then can we create systems that uphold dignity, protect rights and ensure that the failures exposed by this inquiry are never repeated.