Hundreds of millions are spent on services that harm people with autism and learning disabilities.
That’s the view of Sir Robert Buckland, Member of Parliament for South Swindon and an autism father.
Buckland’s adult daughter is autistic.
He told the House of Commons on Thursday (20 January) that mental health hospitals are failing people with autism and learning disabilities.
‘More restrictions’ for Patient A
Buckland referred to the case of Patient A. He is a 24-year-old autistic man who is a patient at Priory Hospital Cheadle Royal, Greater Manchester.
The hospital feeds Patient A through a hatch. His mother says the hospital treats him worse than an “animal”.
Buckland said Patient A’s treatment had led to a downward spiral of “overmedication” and “more restrictions”.
Services ‘harm people’
The Conservative MP added that the country is spending money on “harming people”.
He said figures show the country was spending “over half a billion” on hospital “services that harm people” as long as a decade ago.
Buckland also called for an end to “do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation” (DNACPR) orders being applied to people with learning disabilities in a discriminatory way.
The orders prevent doctors from giving life-saving treatment.
At the end of December, there were 2,065 people in mental health hospitals.
On average, people stay there for more than five years. Some have been there for more than 20 years.
Original Source: Autism Eye – 23 January 22