Woman spends ten years 'trapped in hospital'

As seen in this BBC report, bureaucratic wrangles forced a woman with learning difficulties to spend 10 unnecessary years in a mental hospital. Her ordeal started in 1990, when she was sent to the hospital for treatment. She could have been transferred shortly afterwards to a private home, but there were arguments over who should pay - and she did not leave until 2001. During her time in the hospital, she was the victim of a serious sexual assault by a staff member.

The Local Government Ombudsman has ordered Wakefield Council to pay £20,000 in compensation. The ombudsman ruled that "Miss King" had become a victim of arguments between the council and the NHS over who should pay the thousands of pounds needed to care for her in the community.

£20,000 does not seem nearly enough.