UK Health Radio Medical News Update on the Hour - People with learning disabilities in England are being kept in hospitals far from home for too long.

UK Health Radio Medical News Update on the Hour

People with learning disabilities in England are being kept in hospitals far from home for too long.

A BBC report has said that Sir Stephen Bubb, recommends introducing a charter of rights and more community facilities for people with learning disabilities and that  "inappropriate" in-patient facilities should be closed.

The report comes after abuse was exposed at Winterbourne View care home in Bristol in 2011.

Sir Stephen, chief executive of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO), was asked by NHS England how to address "serious shortcomings" in support for those with learning disabilities.

The BBC spoke to Phill Wills, whose son Josh has a learning disability and severe autism, has to travel 300 miles from Cornwall to see him at a treatment hospital in Birmingham.

He told BBC News he has "fought tooth and nail" to have Josh's care provided nearer to his home.

"When we felt that we weren't being listened to, it felt like Josh wasn't being listened to," he said.

Neglect and abuse of patients by staff at the Winterbourne View private hospital, near Bristol, was uncovered by BBC Panorama. Six people were jailed in 2012 and five given suspended sentences.

Sir Stephen said: "We urge immediate action, to close all Winterbourne-style institutions and ramp up community provision.

"The time for talk is over. It's time for people with learning disabilities or autism and their families to be put first."

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "We have got to do more to get people out of hospitals and into loving and caring homes in the community."

Labour leader Ed Miliband said there were still more people with learning disabilities moving into care than leaving.

Gary Bourlet from advocacy group People First England, who has a learning disability, said: "The report is full of good words. But there's not much here that hasn't been said before.

"We need someone to take charge of making change happen. And that person should be working alongside someone with a learning disability. We call that co-working. And we need a timetable as well."

NHS England expects about 1,000 reviews, which are supported by clinicians as well as NHS and local authority commissioners, to have taken place by the end of the year.

Do you have any experience of this?  We would love to hear your story.  

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio Medical News Update on the Hour

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