Regulator: we did not ignore whistle-blower

Britain's health and social care regulator yesterday defended itself against allegations that it ignored a whistle-blower who raised the alarm about the abuse of people with learning disabilities at the Winterbourne View home in Bristol, exposed by the BBC's Panorama programme in May.

Publishing the findings of its inspection, the Care Quality Commission said Castlebeck, which ran Winterbourne View, had failed to protect the safety of patients or investigate allegations of abuse. It added that it was considering "further legal action" against its owners.

However, it said responsibility for acting on the whistle-blower's warning lay with South Gloucester Safeguarding Children Board, which received the warning last October but did not meet to discuss the issue until the following February.

A spokesman for South Gloucestershire Council said the whistle-blower's information was "limited and of a very different nature and scope to that provided by the Panorama programme".