Health and Social Care Select Committee report - The treatment of autistic people and people with learning disabilities (13 July 2021)

Summary

The poor treatment of autistic people and people with learning disabilities has been a long-standing problem for the NHS and care system. Although successive governments have focused on supporting autistic people and people with learning disabilities to live independent and fulfilled lives in the community, over 2,055 people remain in secure institutions where they are unable to live fulfilled lives and are often subject to unacceptable and inhumane treatment.

This report by the Health and Social Care Select Committee chaired by Jeremy Hunt MP outlines the finding of the committee's Inquiry into the treatment of autistic people by health and care services.

Content

The report addresses these three key areas:

1. Community support: reducing the number of autistic people and people with learning disabilities in inpatient facilities, and the benefits of the Trieste model
2. The use of restrictive practices in inpatient facilities and wider concerns relating to the appropriateness and continued use of such facilities
3. The wellbeing of and accountability for autistic people and people with learning disabilities including the creation of a new role: the Intellectual Disability Physician, and the need for independent reviews into the deaths of autistic people and people with learning disabilities