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Care Minister faces questions on mistreatment of people in inpatient hospitals

23 April 2021

Minister Helen Whately will face questions from MPs on the prolonged detention of autistic people and people with learning disabilities in inpatient hospitals as well as the use of physical restraint.

Background

The Health and Social Care Committee has been investigating the lack of progress on commitments made by the Government, following several abuse scandals, to move these individuals from inpatient units back into the community.

Purpose of the session

The final session of this inquiry will raise with the Minister poor experiences of inpatient care, including ongoing concerns about the unnecessary use of restraint, segregation and seclusion for autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities. Claire Murdoch, Mental Health Director at NHS England will also be questioned.

MPs will consider the impact of the Government’s proposed plans to reform the Mental Health Act, which is used to detain autistic people and people with learning disabilities.

Witnesses

Tuesday 27 April

From 10.00am

  • Dr Sara Ryan, an individual with lived experience and senior researcher on autism at the University of Oxford

Panel 2 at approx. 10.30:

  • Helen Whately MP, Minister of State for Social Care, Department of Health and Social Care
  • Claire Murdoch, National Mental Health Director, NHS England
  • Dr Roger Banks, National Clinical Director for Learning Disabilities and Autism, NHS England

Further information

Image: Parliamentary copyright