Concern over adults with autism spending months in mental health wards

Adults with autism have been held on mental health wards for months on end because suitable living arrangements could not be found for them.

Statistics show that there were five adults with a diagnosis of autism held in a mental health facility in 2014 because they could not get a suitable place to live.

And that number jumped to 10 in 2015.

Meanwhile, the length of time autistic adults have been held has prompted major concern, with Labour’s Liz Kendall suggesting people are being “trapped in hospital”.

The longest period that someone was held in 2014 was 435 days – about 14 months – and in 2015 it was 249 – about eight months.

The average length of stay in 2014 was 236 days – close to eight months – and in 2015 it was 71 days or just over two months.

The figures were published by the Department of Health in response to written parliamentary questions submitted by Ms Kendall.

The MP for Leicester West told the Press Association: “It’s a disgrace that people with autism are still being held on mental health wards, in some cases for more than a year, because they cannot get the care they need in the community or at home.

“The Government promised to take action but these figures show there is still a problem, with more people with autism trapped in hospital for unacceptably long periods of time.

“The Government’s cuts to community care packages are causing huge distress for people with autism and their families. Providing adequate funding to help people with autism live independently is not only the right thing to do but would save taxpayers money too.”

The Department of Health said in a written response to Ms Kendall’s questions that it was unable to provide data relating to children for the same period because the total held on a mental health ward was fewer than five in each year.

MPs are due to debate World Autism Awareness Week on Thursday April 28.

_{Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2016, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Peter Byrne / PA Wire.}