AT last! @matthancock takes steps to stop the abusive detention of people with autism & learning disabilities by demanding a discharge plan for every case in secure units and removing autism as a mental disorder from the law dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7…
Government also publishing data on rates of incarceration that show likes of Lancashire, Black Country & Sussex lock up people at 4 times the rate of Worcestershire, the best-performing region - and will tell health bosses to use statutory powers of intervention to fix the crisis
Department of health's own internal inquiries have found 130 out of 2,250 current cases are stuck in detention due to lack of community facilities or funding while fewer than one-third should be inpatients. Shocking data. Pledge to see first 400 freed by end March 2020
Not in story but also understand Hancock wants £25m ‘double-funding’ pot to cover extra costs for local bodies to free long-term patients - & may appoint a 'tsar’ to drive releases at helm of independent oversight board for adults, similar to one just set up for children
