Winterbourne View abuse victims 'still living too far away'

Winterbourne View closed in 2012 following a Panorama investigation

Too many former residents of a private hospital near Bristol where patients were abused are still living far away from home, the care minister has said.

Of the 48 former residents of Winterbourne View, 12 are still living outside of their local area.

Norman Lamb said the situation "remains unacceptable".

A BBC Panorama investigation in 2011 uncovered patients being abused and neglected by care workers. Six out of 11 staff were jailed.

Speaking a year after his report, Transforming Care, Mr Lamb said in spite of all the progress made there was "still a great deal to be done".

Winterbourne View closed in 2012. Castlebeck, which ran the home, went into administration in March.

Last year, 11 care workers admitted a total of 38 charges after they were secretly filmed abusing patients at the home, which looked after people with severe learning difficulties.

Six were jailed, the remainder received suspended sentences.

After the scandal was exposed, the Department of Health awarded the charity Respond a £25,000 contract to provide family support groups and psychotherapy for the Winterbourne victims.