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Ill-Treatment of People with Learning Disabilities

 

There is a new report by NDTI (National Development Team for Inclusion - advocacy@ndti.org.uk) and Voice Ability, the champion for people with mental ill-health conditions and learning disabilities (https://www.voiceability.org/). Taking notice of this report  is of great urgency, detailing as it does the bad treatment afforded to our most vulnerable citizens by government and its associated institutions. Extracts say:

"Blanket decisions about access to treatment and visitors are being taken without clear justification, including enforced confinement, denying access to outdoor space or gardens, and preventing leave for people who are on mental health wards. Half of advocates reported care providers had stopped all visits and almost half (47%) reported that people were being confined to their rooms…."

and:

"A lack of understanding of people’s rights under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) is a common thread through many responses. Advocates reported serious concerns that people who do not have capacity were not being appropriately assessed. Best interest meetings and decisions were not being taken in line with the MCA. Further, some reported “restraint used unlawfully” and people being “threatened with restraint” when distressed or not wanting to be tested for coronavirus."

Everyone should be aware of the report and the human suffering it discloses.

 

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