The Winterbourne View scandal revealed a system failing to protect the most vulnerable people in society and led to a shake-up of the care system for adults with learning disabilities. However, most of the June 2014 targets to improve care were missed. The number of people with learning disabilities increased by 37 per cent between 2007-08 (144,909) and 2011-12 (198,887).
Local authorities spent £5.2 billion on related community-based services and the NHS spent £500 million on about 3,250 people with a learning disability resident in NHS and private assessment and treatment centres such as Winterbourne View.
This inquiry will look into the placing of people with learning disabilities into private assessment and treatment centres - including progress made in transferring all people with learning disabilities in assessment and treatment centres into more appropriate and cost-effective community-based care.