Commenting on NHS England’s plans to transform learning disabilities services in England, Dr Paul Lelliott, Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals (lead for mental health), said:
“As one of partner organisations of the transforming care programme board, we support the vision to create more appropriate models of care so that people with learning disabilities can live more independently and whenever in their best interests, receive the care and support they need outside of hospitals'
“These plans herald a period of great change for services and, more importantly, for the vulnerable people concerned who rely on their care. It is vital that they, and their families and carers, are fully engaged in the individual decisions about their future care.
“Our inspections are structured around what matters to people who use services and how well they are served – this includes assessing the experiences people with learning disabilities and when they are being cared for as inpatients, what providers are doing to support their discharge. As well as this, we are continuing to look at how we register potential new ‘assessment and treatment’ providers so that inappropriate models of care do not continue. We will publish an update on our plans later this year.”
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These plans herald a period of great change for services and, more importantly, for the vulnerable people concerned who rely on their care. It is vital that they, and their families and carers, are fully engaged in the individual decisions about their future care.
Dr Paul Lelliott, Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals