WQ92434 (e) Tabled on 12/04/2024

How many people with a learning disability or autism have been been placed in psychiatric assessment units or assessment and treatment units, and how many local health boards have funded plans to discharge them into community-based housing and support services?

Answered by Minister for Mental Health and Early Years | Answered on 18/04/2024

Following the publication of the Improving Care, Improving Lives report in early 2020, as part of our commitment to reducing the number of people with learning disabilities in long-term specialised adult inpatient services, we have been working with partners in the NHS Executive to monitor adult learning disability inpatient provision.

This includes undertaking quarterly audits to ensure people with learning disabilities are being cared for in appropriate settings, reducing length of stay and improving the through-flow of patients.

The last audit showed there were 140 Welsh residents with a learning disability residing in a specialist inpatient service; 118 were receiving care in a learning disability provision and 22 were receiving care in a mental health provision.  All have a next-steps plan, which is regularly reviewed and updated, and ensures they are in environments that best meet their existing health and care needs.