Evidence session: Treatment of autistic people and
individuals with learning disabilities
Tuesday 9
February, 09.30
MPs to investigate long-standing issues around the use of
restraint, sectioning orders and seclusion
The Health and Social Care Committee will hold an evidence
session to investigate concerns around the treatment
of autistic people and individuals with learning
disabilities in NHS facilities. MPs will hear from autism
campaigner Alexis Quinn on her personal experience of being held
in the secure estate, in the first of two sessions of this
inquiry. This session will consider long-standing issues around
the use of restraint, sectioning orders and seclusion also
hearing from senior representatives of Mencap, Challenging
Behaviour Foundation, Learning Disability England and Rightful
Lives.
The Committee will explore the current situation and ask why
limited progress has been made in improving the treatment of
autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities by the
NHS.
The session will also consider what the Government’s recently
published white paper on Reforming the Mental Health Act means
for these groups.
Witnesses from 09.30:
-
Alexis Quinn, autism activist, author, Restraint
Reduction Network Manager
At approx. 10.00:
-
Dan Scorer, Head of Policy, Public Affairs, Information
and Advice, Mencap
-
Vivien Cooper, Founder at Challenging Behaviour
Foundation
-
Ivan Olbrecht, Representative Body Member, Learning
Disability England
-
Julie Newcombe, Co-Founder, Rightful Lives
Further information:
The short inquiry into the treatment of autistic people and
individuals with learning disabilities was launched on Wednesday
3 February with a comment from the Chair. Find full quote here:
Use of
sectioning and restraint to be examined by MPs in new inquiry
