2024-07-19 08:44:24
Only the right care and support will stop the scandal of learning disabled people being trapped in inpatient units
Eight years ago, Jack *, a then 19-year-old learning disabled man from the south-east of England, found himself locked up in a hospital under the Mental Health Act, with just a mattress on the floor. Today, he is happily living in a residential service where he cooks and cleans for himself, drives his own car and enjoys a round of golf once a week.
While locked up, Jack’s room was basic; no personal belongings as they were deemed a risk, and he had no access to a kitchen. His poor diet also led to him becoming severely overweight. He was abusive, pulling staff’s hair, being violent, kicking and punching.
Despite his behavioural issues, all Jack needed was the right care and support in a friendlier, residential setting – even the hospital staff said he shouldn’t have been incarcerated at all.
Charlotte Cafferkey, the Residential Service Manager for learning disability charity Hft, where Jack now lives, takes up his story: “When we received his placement, we did a lot of work with colleagues to understand Jack’s needs and prepare for how we would best support him given the concerns around potential abusive or violent actions. We learnt the communication skills that would help us best engage with Jack, we developed a nutrition programme for him and settled him into a routine.
“Jack has come so far, he now communicates well with us and is a much healthier weight. This is all down to the right care and support that has been specifically tailored to Jack’s wants and needs,” she says.
Sadly Jack, who is also autistic, is not a lone statistic. There are over 2,000 people with a learning disability and/or autism who are locked away in mental health hospitals across the country. What makes his story important is how, with the right person-centred care and support from a team of dedicated staff, he was able to live his best life possible.
Jack’s story is a beacon of hope in what is generally a failed environment, as the government fails to meet its own targets to replace inpatient units with proper home support. The latest commitment was to reduce the number by 50% before March 2024, but latest estimates indicate these will not be met until 2030.
The 2,045 learning disabled people currently living in inpatient units in England remain, on average, in these hospital settings for nearly five years. Jack was lucky – the Hft staff’s care and support meant he was (only) there for just over a year.
Inpatient placements in Assessment and Treatment Units (ATUs) are expensive. Mencap research suggests these could reach an average cost of £237,000 a year. That means that, over the course of a year, around £534 million is being spent on inpatient beds for these 2,000 people. In Jack’s case, because of the right care and support, he is no longer reliant on such high support hours, meaning his cost of care is reduced.
“The gross misuse of these funds in this way is staggering,” says Steve Veevers, CEO of Hft.
“We are calling on the new government to rethink the pledges made and instead re-invest this money into the right care and support so this travesty can be avoided.
“Jack’s circumstances are a case in point. How many of those 2,000 learning disabled people currently in the same situation could be living their lives independently, within their communities, instead of being trapped in a situation not of their making?
“This is a scandal that has gone on far too long and needs to stop now,” says Steve.
*Jack’s name has been changed to protect his identity
Notes to editors
For further information please phone 07500 224654 or email media.enquiries@hft.org.uk
About Hft
Proudly established in 1962 by a group of visionary parents, Hft is a charity supporting more than 2,500 learning disabled adults in England and Wales. Together, we are creating a future where learning disabled people and their families can live the best life possible.
Providing personalised support. Creating solutions for living independently. Coming together to campaign for positive change. Fundraising for new opportunities and a bigger impact.
In 2033, we’ll live in a world where learning disabled people have greater choice. About where they live. The support they need and want. And how to spend their time and money.
Learning disability versus difficulty
A learning disability is different from a learning difficulty but the terms are often confused and used inter-changeably. A learning difficulty does not affect general intellect, whereas a learning disability is a life-long condition characterised by a reduced intellectual ability and struggle with everyday activities.
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For more information about Hft please visit www.hft.org.uk
