Your comments: What happened to Baby P?

A national review has been ordered following the death of Baby P

Thank you for sending us your comments on Panorama: What happened to Baby P?

The debate is now closed but a selection of your views are published below.

Panorama: What happened to Baby P? was shown on BBC One at 8.30pm on Monday 17 November 2008.

This case shows a very bureaucratic approach to child care and protection. Those responsible for not averting this child's death should resign or be fired and the whole approach should be fundamentally reviewed. The UK should learn from its European neighbours. Most distressing of all is how a mother could do that to an innocent child. Absolutely nothing can justify the treatment this poor child got. Inflicting such pain and suffering, or failing to protect the child from it, seems incomprehensible and is very, very sickening.
Flor Castilla

Why are the media only interested in social work when there is a death? Does anyone investigate why there is a national shortage of social workers? No. Unless there is a scandal, the media act as if social workers don't exist. It seems that the only reason for the existence of social workers is to act as the national punchbag when a parent kills a child. It is laughable that journalists are now acting as if they have any interest in seeing that children are protected. If anyone is really interested, here's the solution: write to your MP; pay more income tax; pay more council tax; give social workers the means to do the job. Until our society is willing to put its money where its mouth is, don't bother preaching about the welfare of vulnerable children. Next week, the media will have found another story and social work will continue to be ignored, underfunded and disrespected.
Social worker

Having just seen your programme on Baby P may I say thank you for exposing the total failure of Haringey social service dept for failing in so many ways to protect and care for poor little Baby P. As a grandfather of 3, one who is 18 months old I was reduced to tears on seeing your programme, please continue the fight to ensure it never never is allowed to happen again anywhere and to expose those responsible.
Alan Raistrick

My heart aches when I think about the pain and suffering little Baby P had to endure. We can NEVER let this happen again... all those involved in his short, sad life should be held accountable for their lack of action. God bless you Baby P, you have touched the hearts and lives of those who never knew you.
Louise Lucas

I am a Social Worker in Children Protection Team for 4 years I'm at the point of changing my career. I feel that child protection has been too risky to practice. I have children on Interim Care Orders but place with parents at home. Judges don't respect Social Workers opinions. Social Workers have become like call centre workers filling unnecessary stupid forms I hate the new system Integrated Children Services. Government does not consult with SWs before implementing changes. Academics do not know the reality of Social Work practice!
Social worker

I was deeply disturbed, saddened and disgusted by your programme not just because of its content and the reasons for its production but because I was shocked and outraged that I lived in a country that even with training, education and 'processes in place' simply could not support or recognise the signs that allowed this to happen not only once but twice. I am so appalled at our country's failings that I personally going to write to Gordon Brown and my local MP.
Fiona Nicholls

There is no excuse for why social services didn't notice what was going on - so many admittances to hospital, and obvious signs of abuse such as bruises, grab marks and black eyes. As soon as the black eye was spotted he should have been removed from the family home. Instead concerns were raised so many times by police and even the baby's father were brushed aside and the baby continued to live at home. 18 children for one social worker is enough for a visit every 2 weeks at least - how could she have accepted excuses about sick uncles and then the baby covered up with chocolate and white cream? RIP baby P.
Anya Bensberg

This poor innocent little boy, beautiful little boy, how could anyone do this? How could anyone let this happen? My heart bleeds for this child, I never knew him but I cry as if he was my own. Something needs to be done, people need to be punished, his 'parents' need to be punished! These animals that caused this pain on this beautiful little boy who had no voice of his own must pay for what they did. Why did someone not see what was happening? The pictures say it all, you only have to have one look at the photo of him with the chocolate on his face to know that there is something wrong. The marks are clearly there, he looks ill, his eyes scream pain, anyone can see it, so why didn't his so called 'social workers' see it... I beg that this is investigated and the many people involved in beautiful baby p's life and suffering are all held accountable. Please for the sake of every child that lives in pain or suffering something MUST be done!
Kirsty Mcdade

I am sitting in floods of tears, and have been crying many times recently as I hear of how Baby P was mistreated. I myself have a 16 month old baby and cannot believe that someone could be so cruel to an innocent child. It is beyond belief what has happened to this child, and what makes it worse it could have been prevented many a time. If only he was a little bit older so that he could say what was going on, although his injuries would have screamed at most people I'm sure. The torture is over for him now, I just hope that the beasts that did this to him are treated with the contempt they deserve.
Mandy

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