Had a discussion with Rich earlier about calling this post the ‘Death Review’. Or the ‘Review of Deaths’. One of those random  ‘eeek.. should we dress death up in something a bit less in your face’ type chats. But, on balance, gonna stick with the Death Review. Because that’s what it is.

We’ve had #deathbyindifference. The terrible findings of the Confidential Inquiry into the Premature Deaths of Learning Disabled People (CIPOLD). We know learning disabled people die prematurely. We know LB died prematurely [he died??] We know Sloven Health badged his death ‘natural causes’ before the findings of the postmortem were released. We know another patient died of cancer days after LB. A patient who probably didn’t receive the kind of palliative care other patients anticipate receiving.

Barbaric, pretty unspeakable, type death stuff.

The #justiceforLB campaign aims (bit of a thrown together document with hindsight but we’re rolling with it) – The Connor Manifesto – include a request for an independent investigation into other deaths that occurred in Sloven learning disability and mental health provision. A request agreed and actioned by the Real David Nicholson before his departure from the pastures of NHS England.

The scope for this work has now been produced and is out for tender. The work is not about pursuing Sloven blood. It’s about ultimately trying to identify, understand and remedy systemic failings across health and social care. A thorough, committed and considered review of something that should concern everyone. As the specification states; this work will further ‘represent an early implementation of recent CIPOLD proposals’ and ‘feed in to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission Inquiry into the non-natural deaths of people with mental health conditions in state detention’.

This is pretty damn cool in the circumstances. Good for David Nicholson and NHS England who seem to be committed to making effective change for learning disabled people.

Here in the Justice Shed we’re giving this a half tick on our flip chart. Unlike the higher levels of Sloven Health, we ain’t swayed by talk. We want to see the walk. But we’re cautiously optimistic.