A private hospital, which was at the centre of allegations of patient abuse, is to close later this week.

Winterbourne View, near Bristol, was featured in an investigation by the BBC's Panorama programme which showed what appeared to be patients being pinned down, slapped and doused in water. Thirteen members of staff were suspended after the programme was shown and police arrested and bailed 11 people in connection with the case.

Now Castlebeck, which owns Winterbourne, has said that it has voluntarily relinquished its hospital registration and will close on Friday when the last patients will be transferred to alternative services. After the allegations became public Castlebeck apologised for the abuse that had taken place and said it was: "deeply distressed by the completely unacceptable and appalling behaviour of a small number of our employees".

South Gloucestershire Council has launched a serious case review into the events at Winterbourne and the government may still launch a full independent inquiry. Local MP Jack Lopresti has welcomed Castlebeck's decision saying Winterbourne's "future running is untenable".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jun/20/winterbourne-view-hospital-panorama-abuse