Legal meeting for Winterbourne View patients' families

Winterbourne View, which had 24 patients, was closed down in June

A meeting has been held between solicitors and families of those affected by allegations of abuse at a Castlebeck-operated Bristol care home.

Winterbourne View was shut in June after BBC Panorama filmed abuse of patients with learning disabilities.

The meeting at the Vassell Centre in Fishponds was held by law firm Foot Anstey to advise families on possible compensation claims.

At least three families of former patients affected attended.

The public meeting was aimed primarily at families affected by the Winterbourne View case as well as others who were concerned by events at other homes such as Rose Villa in the city, which is also operated by Castlebeck Care.

Families heard that public funding was approved in principle to support a multi-party claim.

'Collective voice'

After a similar investigation, Foot Anstey recently settled a multi-party action brought by more than 160 adults against the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for £6.47m.

Steve Sollars, whose son was at Winterbourne View, said: "We all feel stronger for this meeting and I would urge other affected families to get in touch so they can get support whilst this investigation takes place.

"We just want to find out what happened and make sure that other people don't go through what we've been through."

Andrew Hannam, Partner at Foot Anstey, said: "With the encouraging news on public funding the families can really feel the momentum building.

"A group action of this kind will ensure the families have a collective voice and that public funds will be spent wisely."