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Learning disabilities and autism – troubling BBC reports

In a disturbing report by the BBC on 2 October 2018, it was reported that the use of restraint on adults with learning disabilities in hospital units in England rose by 50% between 2016 and 2017. According to information obtained by the BBC, patient on patient assaults rose from 3,600 to more than 9,000 over the same period and figures from this year suggest that assaults are continuing to rise, and that instances of face-down or prone restraint (which should no longer be used) also increased from more than 2,200 to 3,100 incidents.

The number of people who still remain in in-patient hospital units because of a shortage of community services is also alarming. According to figures obtained by the BBC, the number of adults in inpatient units has reduced slightly from about 2,600 to 2,400 but the number of children in such units has almost doubled. The case of Bethany – a 17 year old girl with autism – being detained in a Treatment and Assessment Unit is discussed in the BBC Radio 4 programme “Transforming Care – Is it Working?” which is available here.