Craegmoor Celebrates Author's Success

Craegmoor Healthcare, the largest independent provider of long term specialist care in the UK, today congratulates Hilda Turner on the publication of a book which makes use of six decades worth of records relating to her care to examine the provision of care for people with learning disabilities.

“Sixty Years of Services For People With Learning Disabilities”, written with Dr Carole Dawson from the University of East Anglia, examines Hilda’s life long experience within the social care system.

Hilda embarked on the ambitious project 3 years ago, providing her with the opportunity to not only reflect on the key moments in her life such as her wedding day, but also how successive Governments have altered the social care sector over the years. The resulting book is a first hand account of sixty years within “the system”.

Hilda is dedicated to ensuring people with learning disabilities receive fair representation. Her commitment has led her to be appointed Co-chair of the Suffolk Learning Disability Partnership Board which discusses regional care provision. She is also Craegmoor’s regional representative for the “Your Voice” programme, which encourages people who use the Craegmoor’s services to be involved in the company, discussing what it does well and where there could be improvements. On top of this Hilda manages to find the time to give an annual talk about her life to trainee Social Workers at the University of East Anglia.

Simon Whitehead, the Interim National Director for Learning Disabilities said of Hilda:

“Hilda is a champion for people who have been wronged and a fighter for what is right. This makes her a leader”

For further information please contact the Craegmoor Press Office on: 01905 459 813

• Photography from the launch of Hilda’s book is available upon request.
• Craegmoor is the largest independent provider of long term specialist care in the UK with a turnover of approximately £170m and employs over 6,500 people.
• Craegmoor has a portfolio comprising specialist and nursing care homes, mental health hospitals, specialist adult colleges and supported living schemes with over 4,700 beds across 234 homes.
• Craegmoor has 2229 Specialist beds including 143 beds in three colleges.
• Craegmoor currently has 2242 Older People beds and 237 beds in the company’s Independent Hospitals.
• Working closely with local authorities, Primary Care Trusts and NHS Trusts, Craegmoor is committed to building partnerships focused on constant service improvements which meet the needs of individual people and which are in line with regulatory requirements and best practice.
• The wide range of services offered by Craegmoor include:
• Specialist care and support for adults with learning disabilities and mental health illnesses
• Nursing and residential care for the elderly
• Independent Hospitals

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