Wilful neglect or ill-treatment in health and social care

Over 130 responses to this consultation have been received, and there is broad support for each of the proposals put forward. The outcome of the consultation exercise is that the offence will apply to:

• all formal healthcare provision for adults and children in both the NHS and private sector. It will not apply to some children’s settings and services which are subject to existing safeguards
• all formal adult social care provision, in both the public and private sectors, including self-funded care
• people and organisations paid to provide or arrange for the provision of these health and adult social care services, but the offence for organisations will be formulated in a different way to the offense for individuals

The offences will not apply to:

• the provision of any non-health children’s services (eg children’s social care)
• informal caring arrangements where the care is not given as part of paid work
• situations that are the result of a genuine accident or error
• any areas other than health care or adult social care
• health care provided for children or adults in some specified settings or services, such as schools or children’s homes

The consultation response document provides further detail. It also includes a full summary of all the responses received and information on the timetable for legislating for the new offences.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/285426/20140226_WN_consultation_doc_-_For_publication.pdf