People with learning disabilities and autism who died in mental health hospitals may still be alive had they been living in their own communities.
That’s the view of campaigner Mark Neary.
Mark Neary with son Steven. Neary says autistic people are safer in their own homes
Sixty-two-year-old Neary made the comment after Sky News revealed that 75 people with autism and learning disabilities have died in England’s hospitals since 2015.
An independent review concluded that the death of one of the 75 — Clive Treacey — was “potentially avoidable”.
Treacey, 47, died in a Nottinghamshire hospital four years ago following a heart attack. He had complex epilepsy and a learning disability.
‘Not enough attention on epilepsy care’
A review by Beverley Dawkins concluded the hospital did not give enough attention to Treacey’s epilepsy care.
Neary’s son Steven, 31, who has autism, lives in his own maisonette in Cowley, London, with support workers.
Neary said the deaths of those in specialist mental health hospitals, known as assessment and treatment units (ATUs), are often linked by an “appalling lack of care”.
Neary, of learning disability human rights group Rightful Lives, believes “quite a lot” of the 75 deaths might have been avoided had the people been living in the community.
‘All 75 deaths should be reviewed’
Dawkins has said all 75 deaths should be reviewed.
Successive governments have committed to closing ATUs and enabling people to live in communities.
But the slow pace of change has attracted criticism.
Statistics for the end of November 2021 show there were 2,085 people with learning disabilities or autism in ATUs.
Target to halve number of people in hospitals
The latest target is to halve 2015 levels of people in the units by 2023/24.
In practice, this means cutting numbers to about 1,440.
The Department of Health and Social Care said it is investing £90 million extra this year in “community services” and “supporting discharges”.
Related:
- MPs back ban on long-term hospitals
- Long-stay hospitals ‘must close’
- Dismay at inaction over assessment units
- Nearly 50 dead in long-stay hospitals
- Scandal of decade-long hospital stays
- ‘Abject failure’ of hospital plan
- Independent medics sent into hospital
- Huge surge in hospitals using restraint
- Social workers aim to cut hospital stays
- Still stuck in mental health hospitals
- Spotlight on hospital care
- Families fight detention ‘scandal’
Published: 9 January 2022
