The care of every patient in segregation or long-term
seclusion will be reviewed as part of plans to improve the
model of care for autistic people and people with learning
disabilities.
Health and Social Care Secretary, , has announced that the
government will fund specialist, independent advocates who
will:
- work with families
- join up services
- work to move people to the least restrictive care and
then out into the community
There are currently 2,245 patients in mental health inpatient
settings in England. The government has committed to halving
this number by 2024. Since 2015, the number has reduced by
22%.
The plans have been announced ahead of the publication of the
Care Quality Commission’s interim report into the use of
restraint, segregation and prolonged seclusion in health and
care settings. The report was commissioned by the Health and
Social Care Secretary last November.
The Health and Social Care Secretary will accept all of the
CQC report’s recommendations and has announced a wider
package of measures to improve care for autistic people and
those with learning disabilities, including:
- funding for specialist advocates to review the care of
every patient in long-term seclusion or segregation
- a new working group for learning disabilities and autism,
bringing together experts, clinicians, parents and carers to
develop a new model of care
- a new awareness campaign, to encourage staff, families
and friends to come forward if they have concerns about care
The commitments build on proposals announced earlier this
year, which will see all health and care staff undertake
mandatory training on learning disability and autism to
ensure that the care offered is high quality, sensitive and
compassionate.
Learning disabilities and autism are one of the 4 clinical
priorities in the NHS Long Term Plan. The
plan sets out ways to improve community support and halve the
number of people in mental health hospitals with a learning
disability or on the autism spectrum by 2024.
Health and Social Care Secretary, , said:
I have been deeply moved and appalled by the distressing
stories of some autistic people and people with learning
disabilities spending years detained in mental health
units. These vulnerable people are too often left alone,
away from their families, friends and communities.
At its best, the health and care system provides excellent
support to people, backed by a dedicated workforce. But a
small proportion of some of the most vulnerable in society
are being failed by a broken system that doesn’t work for
them.
I commissioned the Care Quality Commission to review the
use of segregation in health and care settings to tackle
this issue head on. Today I have accepted their
recommendations in full. I hope this is a turning point so
everyone receives the care they need.
I will not let these people down – they deserve better.
