Geoffrey Cox, Member of Parliament for Torridge and West Devon, has welcomed the announcement by Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, that new measures are being introduced to improve care for people with autism and learning disabilities.
The measures include a new working group for learning disabilities and autism, bringing together experts, clinicians, parents and carers to develop a new model of care; funding for specialist advocates to review the care of every patient in long-term seclusion or segregation, and a new awareness campaign, to encourage staff, families and friends to come forward if they have concerns about care.
The commitments come as part of a wider package of measures to improve care for those with autism or a learning disability. They have been announced ahead of the publication of the Care Quality Commission’s interim report into the use of restraint, segregation and prolonged seclusion in health and care settings, which was commissioned by the Government last November.
The new measures will build on proposals announced earlier this year, which will see all health and care staff undertake mandatory training on learning disability and autism to ensure that the care offered is high quality, sensitive and compassionate.
Geoffrey Cox said: “I am extremely pleased to welcome these new measures, which will help to reintegrate people into society who may previously have spent many years detained in mental health units many miles away from family and friends.
“Specialist, independent advocates will support people; facilitating their move to the least restrictive care and then out into their communities. They will also ensure that all of the services supporting them are joined up in order to create the best possible outcome.”
Mr Cox has championed improved services for people with autism for many years; supporting local and national charities, taking up individual cases and sponsoring the Autism Act in Parliament to give the strategy legal force.
