Recommendation 8

In pursuing that policy, we recommend that by the end of 2021 the Department and NHS England & Improvement: i) introduce weekly formal reviews of the suitability of admission for all autistic people and people with learning disabilities who have been kept in inpatient facilities for three months or more; and such reviews should be used to determine whether it is in individuals’ interest to remain in such facilities. Furthermore, with the agreement of individuals’ families, these reviews could take-place on a monthly-basis; ii) ensure that those reviews are conducted by experienced clinicians who have no financial or personal connection including with working the inpatient facility concerned so as to guarantee their independence; iii) where the reason for a long-term admission (greater than three months) is due to a lack of appropriate community support and provision, the NHS should be required to find and set up community provision within eight weeks using the funding from the inpatient facility. The Mental Health Act 1983 should be amended to include automatic compensation for the breach of human rights involved for individuals for whom this is not delivered; and iv) proceed with removing the definition of autism as a disorder in the forthcoming reforms to mental health legislation in line with the commitments provided by the previous Secretary of State. (Para 56) 40 The treatment of autistic people and people with learning disabilities