CQC report finds care for people with learning disabilities ‘inhumane’

The care regulator for England has said that too many hospitals for people with autism or learning disabilities are providing poor care, which is, at times, inhumane and undignified.

The Care Quality Commission found physical restraint part of the culture in some places, and cases of patients secluded or segregated for 13 years, adding that change on a national level was needed to stop patients “falling through the gaps”.

Helen Whately, Care Minister, said the findings were “deeply concerning” and added that “Nobody should be receiving such poor care.

“We are already taking action, including investment in community services, independent case reviews of people in long term segregation, and the ongoing work overseen by Baroness Hollins.

“I am determined that this level of care should no longer have any place in our health system, and will carefully consider the recommendations in this report.

A spokesperson from the NHS said that they were reducing the number of people in specialist hospitals, adding that the number of people admitted since 2015 had been cut by nearly a third. They went on to say that the NHS was committed to reducing the number further, while it invests more in community support and improves the quality of inpatient care.

The CQC’s deputy chief inspector of hospitals and lead for mental health Dr Kevin Cleary, said restraint and seclusion should only be used in extreme cases.

“We saw too many examples where people were subject to unnecessary restrictions and examples of people’s human rights at risk of being breached.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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