Autism and Learning Disabilities: Hospital Detention

Baroness Hollins Excerpts

Tuesday 11th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I am grateful to the noble Baroness for tempting me to agree with her comments about a mental health commissioner. We have debated that, and the noble Baroness is aware that we do not feel that this is the right way forward. However, I am sure we will return to that on Report.

With regard to not waiting for the Mental Health Bill to become an Act, of course I agree. The number of people with a learning disability and autistic people who are in mental health hospitals is unacceptable, and there are still too many detained who could be supported in their communities. We have taken immediate action in allocating funding to local areas: £124 million for learning disability and autism services. We are making sure that the workforce has the right skills and knowledge through work such as the HOPE(S) model. We are providing for the CQC to deliver independent care (education) and treatment reviews. NHS planning guidance provides a continued focus on improving mental health and learning disability care, with an objective to deliver a minimum—I emphasise minimum— 10% reduction in the use of in-patient care.

[Baroness Hollins (CB)]

My Lords, for 25 years, this woman’s detention was in long-term segregation. My review of this practice, which was commissioned by the previous Government, recommended that people in LTS must have an independent review, should have national support to reduce confinement, and be allocated an independent project manager to co-ordinate their timely discharge. But despite the unequivocal success of the ICETR programme, the HOPE(S) intervention and senior intervenors’ support, funding has been cut at the end of this year. Will the Government commit to funding these vital initiatives to end this rights-depriving restrictive practice?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I am most grateful to the noble Baroness for her contribution and expertise in this area, which I know we all look to in your Lordships’ House, as well as outside it. The points she makes are quite right and important. On this particular case, which is very sad and concerning, I understand that the person is now living in the community with 24/7 care and has been since 2022. I saw at Rampton how people were being supported out into the community with the right support. On the example the noble Baroness gave, we are very keen to improve the uptake of advocacy services, and she will know that all these matters are being addressed in our discussions on the Mental Health Bill.