FII in detail
- Feb 26
- 3 min read
An examination of Fabricated and Induced Illness cases in Gloucestershire; Parent and Carer Alliance C.I.C
This report was compiled by the Parent and Carer Alliance C.I.C. and authored by a social worker with 30 years of experience.
In 2026, Gloucestershire Parent Carer Alliance explained that directly because of this 2019 report, systems in the County improved.
The report is based on the testimonies of 12 families who were accused of child abuse (FII) while trying to secure support for their children’s additional needs.
Key Findings & Statistics
The report highlights a concerning pattern regarding how and why these allegations are made:
Unsubstantiated Claims: In 11 out of 12 cases, the allegations were found to be unsubstantiated. Child protection procedures were either never started or ended very quickly.
The "Retaliation" Pattern: 10 of the 12 parents felt the FII allegation was a direct reaction to them either making a complaint about poor service or requesting additional support for their child.
Vindication via Diagnosis: In 9 cases, the child received a formal medical diagnosis after the FII allegation, proving the parents were correct about their child's symptoms all along.
Sources of Allegations: The majority of allegations came from Consultant Paediatricians (5 cases) and Children’s Social Care (2 cases).
The Impact on Families
The report describes the emotional and systemic "nightmare" these families endured:
Psychological Trauma: Parents reported suffering from PTSD, depression, anxiety, and nervous breakdowns. One mother left the family home for two years following a breakdown; another described the experience as "systematic abuse" by the state.
Professional & Financial Ruin: Many parents fear they can no longer work in care or education because the allegation—even if false—remains on their DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) records.
Fear of Medical Care: Several families are now "petrified" to take their children to the GP or A&E, fearing that any visit will trigger a new social care investigation. Some have turned to expensive private healthcare to avoid local authorities.
Institutional Distrust: There is a profound loss of trust in doctors and social workers, who are perceived as having "too much individual power" and failing to listen to parents.
Root Causes & Themes
The author identifies several systemic failures within Gloucestershire’s services:
Lack of Expertise: A failure to understand complex conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Chronic Fatigue/ME, or Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) often leads professionals to mistake genuine symptoms for "fabrication."
Record-Keeping Issues: False allegations and "red warnings" (e.g., "Mother has Munchausen by proxy") remain on medical and social care records indefinitely, even after being disproven.
Localized Culture: The report suggests these issues are "deeply embedded" in the culture of Gloucestershire’s health and social care services, noting that Ofsted previously rated these services as "inadequate."
Notable Case Examples
Family 1: A 15-year-old was placed in a psychiatric unit for a year because wrong notes from another patient were filed in her records. The mother was accused of FII for questioning the notes; the allegations only stopped after a diagnosis of EDS.
Family 3: A mother was accused of FII after complaining about her daughter being restrained by porters. It was later discovered the child's symptoms were a reaction to prescribed medication, not fabrication.
Family 5: A social worker accused a mother of FII while she was unwell with pneumonia, and her daughter was due to be hospitalised with major surgery. The Local Government Ombudsman eventually ruled that the family suffered "injustice and service failure."
Conclusion & Recommendations
The report concludes that FII allegations are being used as a tool to silence parents who "push too hard" for services. It calls for:
Record Cleansing: Ensuring unsubstantiated allegations are removed from health and social care records.
Cultural Shift: Moving toward "restorative practice" where parents are listened to rather than viewed with immediate suspicion.
Training: Better education for professionals on rare and neurodivergent conditions.