Mother’s plea for NHS sex abuse training

Her son Ben took his own life while he was being treated at the Becklin Unit in Leeds, a decade after he was subjected to horrific abuse at the hands of a national paedophile ring.

Now she is demanding the NHS adopt “Ben’s Law” in a petition to ensure doctors, nurses and other staff are trained in dealing with victims.

Among other requests, she wants patient records to be kept up-to-date with details of abuse experienced to prevent victims having to repeat what has happened to them.

Her son, who would have marked his 26th birthday at the weekend, died in 2012 after falling seriously ill linked to the abuse as a schooboy which began when he was first targeted aged just 12.

He took his life on the mental health unit and at an inquest in January his mother, who has asked not to be named, discovered none of the staff treating him had training in dealing with patients who had been abused in childhood.

She said: “I am fighting for Ben’s Law to help the next Benjamin who asks for help. It’s for the next generation of sons and daughters that come to the NHS.

“People who are sexually abused don’t just go on with their lives. All I am asking is for the NHS to wake up and get staff trained.”

To sign the petition, go to www.change.org/p/simon-stevens-chief-executive-nhs-jane-cummings-chief-nursing-officer-the-rt-hon-norman-lamb-bens-law-to-make-it-mandatory-that-all-doctors-nurses-support-workers-and-clinical-physiologists-must-be-trained-in-how-to-deal-with-patients-whom-have-been-?recruiter=274714456&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share_email_responsive.