What action will the Cabinet Secretary take to increase the provision of accommodation and support in communities for people with learning disabilities and/or autism so that they do not spend years in a mental health hospital, as has been called for by the Stolen Lives campaign?
The Welsh Government is clear that no-one should have to live in a hospital setting for longer than is necessary and that wherever possible, people should be cared for at home, or as close to home as possible.
Health boards and local authorities are responsible for meeting the health and care needs of their local populations, and they should work through Regional Partnership Boards and use population needs assessments to ensure suitable local accommodation is provided to meet the needs of people leaving hospital.
Through our Learning Disability - National Implementation and Assurance Group (LDNIAG), we work closely with partners from health boards, local authorities, the third sector and private providers to implement recommendations from the Improving Care, Improving Lives review of adult learning disability inpatient provision published in 2020.
This includes working with partners to reduce barriers to early discharge from hospital and ensuring improved mechanisms are in place to reduce the number of people entering hospital.