A Hospital is not a Home. Government is failing people in learning disability hospitals

The government will miss its deadline to move people out of learning disability hospitals by two years as revealed in a new report out today. 'Time to move on' from social care charity Turning Point shows that 16 long-stay hospitals will remain open past the April 2004 target date, with some not closing until 2006.

And half of the people the government promised to move are still stuck in hospital just four months from the closure deadline. This is despite the Department of Health making it clear in 2001 that it is wrong for people with a learning disability to live in hospital on a long-term basis (Valuing People White Paper 2001). The process of moving people first started in 1971 meaning that some people will be waiting more than 35 years to move on.

Lord Victor Adebowale, Chief Executive of Turning Point, said: "This must be one of the longest waiting lists in the NHS. Yet these people are not ill and a hospital is not a home where they can live full lives.
"The government has a fantastic opportunity to become the administration that finally gives every person with a learning disability an independent home within the community. We're urging it to take action now so that this doesn't become a missed opportunity."

Many of those still remaining in long-stay hospitals have been there for decades, some of them having been placed there as children. They often live a shadow of the lives they could be living in the community.

There is a wealth of evidence showing that moving from hospitals into the community comes with a marked improvement in people's quality of life and the level of care they receive. Most importantly, living within the community offers greater independence.

Some hospitals house just a handful of people, with other areas of the building closing around them or being converted for other purposes. The delays in moving people on are proving frustrating for both staff and the remaining people with a learning disability:

"I simply cannot fault the staff but I don't know how they manage. There's scaffolding up at the moment because another wing's being converted. All my brother keeps saying is 'when am I going to the new house?' but the date has been slipping for the last two years. Fortunately it now looks like we have a definite date in sight, we're amongst the lucky ones I suppose."

Alice, relative of long-stay hospital resident in the North of England.
Despite being a key target in Valuing People, the job of moving people on has slipped from government and NHS priorities and carries little political weight. It is possible for NHS Trusts to achieve the highest rating even if they have failed to draw up plans to close hospitals in their area.
Although it has acknowledged that it will miss the April deadline, government's response has been lacklustre at best. Turning Point does not believe it is doing enough:

"Some places are saying they may still not be able to help everyone to move out of long-stay hospitals to better places by April 2004 but we want them to go on trying."
Department of Health 2003

Today, Turning Point is calling on government to set a new, revised target to close all remaining hospitals by December 2004 and to back this up by reflecting the target in the priorities of Strategic Health Authorities, NHS Trusts, social services and housing departments.
The government should provide a ring-fenced fund of £15 million to meet the transitional costs of moving people into the community, Doing so will free up the hospitals and land currently dedicated to long-stay hospitals.

Notes to editors
To arrange an interview or for further information please contact David Chater in the Turning Point press office on 0207 553 5500, out of hours mobile 07786 938 601.
Turning Point is a leading social care charity providing services for people with complex needs across a range of health and disability issues including learning disabilities, substance misuse and mental health. Turning Point has services in 200 locations throughout England and Wales and last year had contact with 73,000 people.
Turning Point supports people with a learning disability who have high support needs, including profound and multiple learning disability, challenging behaviour or additional mental health problems. The range of services includes supported housing residential care and day support.
Research shows that for people with a learning disability, living in the community is associated with better support arrangements and lower staff ratios, more opportunities for day time