I saw last night the brilliant piece of investigative journalism that was BBC Panorama's uncovering of the appalling treatment of residents at the Winterbourne View Hospital for adults with learning disabilities and autism.
It was an extremely distressing hour of television to watch. Inevitably, questions are raised about how could people be so heartless, particularly those in the care profession.
I found it particularly disturbing, having spent time volunteering with Disability Sport Wales, where I helped to coach a variety of sports to children and young adults with learning difficulties.
I was also lucky enough to be invited to Old Trafford cricket ground, where I assisted the other coaches of the Wales disability cricket team in their match against England.
Having worked with some fantastic people - both coaches and coachees - it was depressing to see Panorama and witness the almost systematic abuse at Winterbourne View.
My experience of staff of Disability Sport Wales was only positive - they were gentle, kind, warm and treated the children and young adults with a mutual affection.
While Panorama has undoubtedly done a great service to those who suffer in the manner uncovered at Winterbourne View, it will have the unfortunate side-effect of casting suspicion over everybody who works in care.
I am sure that the exhausted but the satisfied smiles that were prevalent at the end of each weekly coaching session was enough to confirm the value of what Disability Sport Wales was doing (and still do).
I can only hope that there is not widespread mistreatment of vulnerable people in residential care and elsewhere, for the sake of those at risk as well as for the profession as a whole, and the reputation of those who do so much good.
But of course, hope has to be accompanied by a practical framework truly to guarantee the well-being of those who require care, and to ensure that the Winterbourne View abuse catalyses the implementation of these safeguards.
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