Source: Mencap published on this website Tuesday 22 April 2025 by Jill Powell
Latest data highlights major concerns on the inappropriate detention of people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. Mencap, along with The Challenging Behaviour Foundation, National Autistic Society and other organisations have written to the Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock MP, urging swift action to address the situation.
Jackie O’Sullivan, Executive Director of Strategy and Influence of learning disability charity Mencap said:
“It’s of great concern that every national target to transform care for people with a learning disability and / or autism to date, has been missed and the situation is now starting to go backwards in many areas. This new data shows there is an unacceptable postcode lottery for those trapped in mental health units and their families desperate for them to come out.
“Thousands of people are still being locked away, often for years on end, many due to a lack of suitable community support – not because they need inpatient mental health treatment. In these settings, people can be subjected to physical restraint and kept in solitary confinement for months on end, leaving people with lasting trauma.
“The Government, health bodies and local authorities must acknowledge that progress is unravelling in many areas and take action to address this. It’s unacceptable that an increasing number of local areas are failing to meet long promised targets to reduce the number of people in mental health hospitals and alarmingly, we’re seeing inpatient rates rising in a significant number of local areas too.
“Through reform of the Mental Health Act the Government aims to end the inappropriate detention of people with a learning disability and autistic people but the key change in the law that will make a difference will only be activated when ‘sufficient community support’ is in place. It’s hard to see how this will be achieved when there’s a lack of community support, ongoing cuts and no plan to improve the situation.”
A copy of the joint letter can be found here
