Dore – the media creak into action, Wynford issues a statement and the administrators post a notice *update*
Posted by gimpy on May 28, 2008
Finally, two weeks after the company started to crumble the main stream media are beginning to cover the story. The Guardian have a slightly out of date story covering some of the events and quotes from disgruntled clients. The Guardian story also carries a quote from Wynford Dore, taken from the Dore website, stating that they have called in advisors. However, a more recent statement from Wynford on the Dore Talk forum admits that the administrators have been called in. Holfordwatch have an excellent analysis of this statement and point out that Wynford has still to explain what will happen to people owed money and he has not said sorry. Holfordwatch also ask whether or not details of the administrators will be posted. This has now happened with the Dore homepage displaying the following statement.
DDAT (UK) Limited
Camden Holdings Limited
– Both In Administration (the Companies)Please be advised that Joanne Wright, Fraser Gray and Jamie Gleave, all of Kroll, were appointed Joint Administrators of DDAT (UK) Limited and Camden Holdings Limited on 28 May 2008. Joanne Wright is licensed by the Insolvency Practitioners Association, Fraser Gray by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland and Jamie Gleave by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
The Joint Administrators will be writing to all known creditors within the next seven days to formally advise of their appointment. In addition, where appropriate, updates will be provided via this website.
The Joint Administrators are in discussions with potential purchasers of the business with the aim of securing a sale which provides continuity of treatment for customers.
For all general enquiries concerning treatment, please contact the helpline on 01926 514 033 or by email at dore@dore.co.uk. The Joint Administrators office may be contacted directly on 0161 838 4543 or dorehelpline@kroll.com.
The affairs, business and property of the Companies are being managed by the Joint Administrators. The Joint Administrators act as agents of the Companies and without personal liability.
More info as and when I get it.
*update*
Holfordwatch point out that The Sun, The Times and The Independent are now beginning to cover this story. While The Independent story is credulous and out of date, both The Sun and The Times point out that Dore lacked evidence and relied on glitzy celebrity endorsements while The Times highlights the secretive nature of the programme. Interestingly The Times articles finishes with this quote from a Dore spokesperson.
“The long-term plan to was get funding from governments, that hasn’t happened.”
If true, and it is a line argued in previous statements from Dore, then it continues to beggar belief that Dore did not carry out good quality research to make their case. Government funding for disability support is not won by celebrity endorsements, silencing critics through legal threats, and inadequate research. Also, this suggests that there business plan has been flawed for some time, the evidence shows that at least since 2005 they have been loosing money, propped up by loans from Wynford Dore, yet they did not change their business model and were happy to take huge sums of money from parents upfront, for treatment lacking evidence, while searching for the pot of gold at the end of the government funding rainbow.
*update 2*
The Guardian have a further short piece.
*update 3*
Wynford Dore has issued a video statement where he thanks people for their offers of help and points them in the direction of his new site. No apology, no offers of help for those who have lost their money.
Wynford Dore statement leaves serious questions unanswered « Holford Watch: Patrick Holford, nutritionism and bad science said
[...] Dore – the media creak into action, Wynford issues a statement and the administrators post a notice … // May 28, 2008 at 7:21 pm [...]
DORE - Parents Speak Out To The Media « PodBlack Blog said
[...] – Parents Speak Out To The Media Jump to Comments Whilst Gimpy’s blog and Holford Watch continue the questioning about Wynford Dore’s recent statement on the Dore [...]
Dr* T said
I was hoping for a Daily Mail scoop “We were wrong – shock”
Unlikely, I suppose.
woodchopper said
“Government funding for disability support is not won by celebrity endorsements, silencing critics through legal threats, and inadequate research.”
I don’t know. Those seem to be pretty effective means of getting government cash in other areas. Just look at Brain Gym or the arms trade to start with. The only tactic missing from that list is making hefty donations to party funds.
It is rather heartening that Dore didn’t get a big government cheque. Shows that at some level the science is important.
dvnutrix said
It will be interesting to see what happens, Woodchopper. The UK parents seem to be organising themselves into writing to the Prime Minister and putting up some sort of epetition that Dore should be provided by education or health services. As you say, give that education depts. parted with money for Brain Gym, it is hard to believe that it is just the lack of scientific support that is dissuading them from supporting Dore.
brainduck said
Woodchopper, I think it very likely that Wales (which is devolved in education & health) would have got Dore into schools in the next year or so, Alun Cairns AM, one of the 4 Assembly Members to be doing a special report into dyslexia, having apparently been completely convinced by Scott Quinnell (rugby player). They’d launched a ‘consultation’ which was basically ’send us your anecdotes!’.
Post on this next week…
jaycueaitch said
This is a classic case of bloggers leaving the conventional media trailing in the dust. Gimpy [pointed out the black hole in Dore’s accounts months ago and Brainduck has frequently pointed out the lack of research backing up their program.
apgaylard said
The credulous Leamington Spa Courier, the august journal for Dore <a href=”http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/warwick/Clinic-claims-major-autism-breakthrough.3704480.jp”research laments the passing of their favourite miracle workers.
brainduck said
gimpy, just to let you know for some reason everything i send to hotmail addresses (yors, j, others) has been bounicing since c wednseday. dunno why, think s is spam.
danphil said
I am a parent who is absolutely devistated by recent events at Dore. My son who suffers with dyslexia started the program six weeks ago. They must have been aware that Dore was in trouble and still they took the money from my account on the 15th of this month!!!! I am more upset that my son was allowed to begin this program giving us all false hope of a cure as he will be unable to finish the program. We have been left in limbo, i am continuing at the moment with the exercises we have but they will shortly run out. I must admit I have seen quite a remarkable improvement in my son already and need to continue this program, I have also met several people both adults and children who have completed the program in my locality and ALL swear that the improvements are miraculous. So where does this leave DORE, and more importently where does it leave the PATIENTS? surely the proof is in the pudding so to speak. (all the success stories)???
Katie said
Parents and families that have been left in the lurch by this situation might be interested in the INPP programme http://www.inpp.co.uk i think. INPP has been practicing for over 30 years and after they helped my two children with ADD, I hope that others can benefit from their work too.
Sharon said
Katie, I had a look at the INPP site. It gives no idea as to the cost of their treatments. Also on that site, under the heading of ‘published articles’ there are a few newspaper articles and a couple of Medical Veritas mentions. That last publishes all sorts of nonsense and is especially involved in spreading anti-vaccine crankery so it doesn’t engender much faith in the benefits of INPP.
Danphil, I am sorry you have been cheated. I wish you every success in reclaiming your money. To have taken the payment when they must have known the organisation was about to close, was totally dishonest an unfair.
Any therapy promoted as benefiting children with LDs must be rigorously tested and follow the highest standards of science and ethics. Your son deserves no less.
I hope he will get the help he is entitled to from educational psychologists and other knowledgeable professionals. He can succeed without Dore.