Measures to ensure all NHS staff receive training in learning disabilities and autism now have the full force of the law behind them.
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training in Learning Disability and Autism programme has received royal assent.
It has now passed into law as part of the new Health and Care Act 2022.
Tireless campaigner
Paula McGowan campaigned tirelessly for the training after the death of her 18-year-old son, Oliver, in Bristol’s Southmead Hospital.
Paula McGowan, whose learning disability and autism training for NHS staff has become law. She is wearing her OBE medal
Oliver had a learning disability, autism, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. He died after suffering an allergic reaction when medics gave him an antipsychotic at the hospital.
His family say the hospital gave him the drug against their wishes and those of the teenager himself.
His brain swelled so much after the antipsychotic that it began to come out of the base of his skull.
In the wake of the tragedy, Paula started a petition to prevent avoidable deaths by making learning disability and autism training mandatory for all NHS staff.
The programme was trialled last year and an evaluation is due to be published in the coming weeks.
‘So much better outcomes’
In a video posted on Twitter, McGowan said other people with learning disabilities and autism would now have “so much better health and social care outcomes”.
McGowan, who was recently awarded the OBE and has been battling cancer, thanked all those who have supported her campaign, including Baroness Sheila Hollins.
Hollins is a professor of the psychiatry of learning disability at St George’s, University of London.
She was a strong supporter of McGowan’s campaign and put forward an amendment to the legislation to enshrine the scheme into law.
Related:
- Oliver: doctor faces investigation
- Apology over probe into Oliver’s death
- NHS admits Oliver’s death avoidable
- Criminal probe into Oliver’s death
- New probe into death of Oliver McGowan
- Petition demands police train in autism
- Mum petitions for forced autism training
Published: 9 May 2022. Updated 15 May 2022
