Eric Pickles Tells Survivor of Gravesend Care Home Abuse to ‘adjust Your Medication’

By Joshua Fowler
Gravesend Reporter
January 9, 2015

http://www.gravesendreporter.co.uk/news/eric_pickles_tells_survivor_of_gravesend_care_home_abuse_to_adjust_your_medication_1_2825211

Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles

MP Eric Pickles was caught on tape telling a survivor of alleged child abuse at a Gravesend care home to “adjust your medication” last month.

His comments can be heard in a recorded confrontation with constituent Teresa Cooper, who is one of at least six women who say they were drugged at Kendall House, in Pelham Road, during the late 1970s and whose children now have genetic defects.

Upon meeting the communities and local government minister at a wildlife event in Ongar, Essex, Ms Cooper says: “Nothing has changed on the Kendall House abuse. Only you have ignored it. You have ignored it.”

Mr Pickles then retorts: “just, just, adjust your medication.”

Kendal House, now flats, caused a storm when a 1980 documentary showed the level of drugs being prescribed by Dr Marenthiran Perinpanayagam.

Girls in his care were given pills designed for schizophrenics, psychotics and Parkinson’s sufferers without being diagnosed with any of those conditions.

Around 30 years later, the children of these girls now have learning difficulties, cleft palates and brain growths.

Mr Pickles told The Independent: “It was never my intention to insult Teresa Cooper. I was giving her a frank piece of advice in private.”

To hear Mr Pickles’ comments, click here.