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Select Committee · Health and Social Care Committee

Treatment of autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities

Status: Closed Opened: 3 Feb 2021 Closed: 1 Aug 2022 14 recommendations 6 conclusions 1 report

Limited progress in improving the way autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities are treated is to be examined by the Health and Social Care Committee. The short inquiry will hold the first of two evidence sessions next week with particular focus on the use of restraint and “sectioning”. It will also consider issues around … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - The treatment of autistic people and people … HC 21 13 Jul 2021 20 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
2 Recommendation Fifth Report - The treatment of autisti… Not Addressed

We recommend that the Department of Health & Social Care provides us with a complete...

We recommend that the Department of Health & Social Care provides us with a complete assessment of the cost of providing community support for all autistic people and people with learning disabilities currently in inpatient units. Alongside this, an assessment should also be made of the cost of providing community … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it is difficult to provide a complete assessment of community support costs and matching investment due to varied funding, highlights existing spending, but does not commit to the specific assessment or matching investment as recommended.
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Department of Health and Social Care
4 Conclusion Fifth Report - The treatment of autisti… Not Addressed

Since the Winterbourne View scandal, over 10 years ago, successive governments have committed to reducing...

Since the Winterbourne View scandal, over 10 years ago, successive governments have committed to reducing the number of autistic people and people with learning disabilities in inpatient settings and prioritising community support for these individuals. However, missed and delayed policy targets suggest a more radical approach to unlocking funding for … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government provides a generic response about the importance of mental health treatment and quality of care, which does not directly address the committee's conclusion regarding missed policy targets or the reasons for extended stays in Assessment and Treatment Units.
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Department of Health and Social Care
5 Conclusion Fifth Report - The treatment of autisti… Not Addressed

While we welcome the vision set out by Helen Whately MP (Minister of State, Department...

While we welcome the vision set out by Helen Whately MP (Minister of State, Department of Health & Social Care), we believe this is a matter of delivery and The treatment of autistic people and people with learning disabilities 39 not a matter for further review. At present, the work … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response addresses a different suggestion regarding inadequate CQC-rated hospitals, and therefore does not engage with the committee's conclusion about The Building the Right Delivery Support Group.
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Department of Health and Social Care
11 Conclusion Fifth Report - The treatment of autisti… Not Addressed

Inpatient facilities do not consistently meet the needs of autistic people and people with learning...

Inpatient facilities do not consistently meet the needs of autistic people and people with learning disabilities and too often this is because of factors such as the unnecessary use of restrictive practices; inpatient facilities being unable to accommodate individuals’ needs to avoid sensory overload; and the distance inpatient facilities are … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response addresses a different suggestion regarding investigating deaths, and therefore does not engage with the substance of the committee's conclusion about why inpatient facilities fail to meet the needs of autistic people and people with learning disabilities.
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Department of Health and Social Care

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
27 Apr 2021 Bengi O’Reilly, an individual with lived experience, Claire Murdoch · NHS England, Dr Sara Ryan, an individual with lived experience, Fiona Walshe · Department of Health and Social Care, Helen Whately MP · Department of Health and Social Care, Roger Banks · NHS England View ↗
13 Apr 2021 Baroness Sheila Hollins · Beyond Words, Dr Ian Davidson · NHS and Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr Ken Courteney · Royal College of Psychiatrists Intellectual Disability Faculty, Dr Theresa Joyce · Care Quality Commission, Ian Birrell, Journalist, Professor Philip Fennell · Cardiff University, Sir Norman Lamb, former Minister at the Department of Health View ↗
9 Feb 2021 Alexis Quinn, autism activist, author and Restraint Reduction Network Manager, Dan Scorer · Mencap, Ivan Olbrechts · Learning Disability England, Julie Newcombe · Rightful Lives, Vivien Cooper · Challenging Behaviour Foundation View ↗

Who gave evidence

18 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alexis Quinn, autism activist, author and Restraint Reduction Network Manager — 1
Baroness Sheila Hollins · Founder Beyond Words 1
Bengi O’Reilly, an individual with lived experience — 1
Claire Murdoch · National Director for Mental Health NHS England 1
Dan Scorer · Head of Policy, Public Affairs, Information and A… Mencap 1
Dr Ian Davidson · Autism Lead NHS and Royal College of Psychiatrists 1
Dr Ken Courteney · Chair Royal College of Psychiatrists Intellectual Disability Faculty 1
Dr Sara Ryan, an individual with lived experience — 1
Dr Theresa Joyce · Clinical Psychologist and former National Profess… Care Quality Commission 1
Fiona Walshe · Director for Mental Health and Disabilities, Shie… Department of Health and Social Care 1
Helen Whately MP · Minister of State Department of Health and Social Care 1
Ian Birrell, Journalist — 1
Ivan Olbrechts · Representative Body Member Learning Disability England 1
Julie Newcombe · Co-Founder Rightful Lives 1
Professor Philip Fennell · Emeritus Professor Cardiff University 1
Roger Banks · National Clinical Director for Learning Disabilit… NHS England 1
Sir Norman Lamb, former Minister at the Department of Health — 1
Vivien Cooper · Founder Challenging Behaviour Foundation 1

Correspondence

3 letters
DateDirectionTitle
26 Oct 2021 — Correspondence with the Minister of State for Care and Mental Health on Treatme…
22 Jun 2021 To cttee Letter from the National Mental Health Director on assuring transformation data…
25 May 2021 To cttee Letter from NHS England and NHS Improvement on the Committee's inquiry into Tre…