The Government has failed to meet its long-term target of reducing the number of people with autism and learning disabilities detained in hospitals.

About 2,045 people autism People with learning disabilities or learning disabilities are currently detained in psychiatric hospitals in England, many in isolation under the Mental Health Act.

People with learning disabilities and autism even without Mental Health Health status.

According to learning disability charity Mencap, the average length of time people spend in hospital is almost five years.

The government has pledged to reduce the number of people with learning disabilities or autism in mental health hospitals by 50% by the end of March 2024, to no more than 1,445 inpatients.

Not only has the government failed to meet its target of a 600 reduction (by more than 40%), but Mencap predicts it will not be achieved until 2030, six years later than promised.

Adrian Lochhead is one of the parents who has fought for years for his children’s freedom.

His 28-year-old daughter Maeve, who has autism and a learning disability and has spent much of the past decade in a psychiatric hospital, is desperate to leave the hospital and live closer to family and friends.

Although Adrian lives in Carlisle, his daughter is in hospital in Derbyshire, more than three hours’ drive away.

He told Sky News she was deeply affected by her long stay in hospital.

“She learned new behaviors in hospital, saying she was sick, as any of us would if we were in a ward long enough and the doctors kept treating you like you were, so you start to believe you are, ” He said.

“She believed she was sick but knew she wasn’t. She just wanted to get out.”

Adrian said he wanted his daughter to be able to live in her own place with carer support, but said the local authority was unable to provide this, although it could be a cheaper option and give his daughter some independence and freedom.

“So much money was wasted on an unsuitable solution. I spent ten years trying to find a solution for her and today we are no closer than when we started,” he said.

Dan Scorer, head of policy at Mencap, said: “We know that the public purse is costing many people more than £10,000 a week for these inpatient hospital beds.

“When people come out of trouble, they often do need very in-depth support and large teams of staff to help them reintegrate into the community, with all the traumatic experiences they’ve been through.

“Initially this can be expensive, but over time we’re seeing significant savings as support is reduced.”

Derek Blenkinsop, 57, has a learning disability and has been in and out of mental hospitals for years.

But he now has his own dedicated bungalow in Sunderland, close to his family and supported by a rotating staff of carers.

“I prefer living here,” Derek said. “I have confidence in the staff.”

He does what he loves every day.

“I sit and color and listen to music [his favourite band is ABBA]. I see my family whenever I can. “

Perhaps most importantly, he felt he had privacy.

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His care is funded by Sunderland Council and provided by local charity Autism Society North East. The care was said to be less expensive than a hospital stay for Derek and had a positive impact.

“Derek definitely has more personality 1713453926,” said Eddy Mashavirah, who works with Derek.

“You know, now he can joke around, but when I saw him in the hospital, he didn’t show any personality.”

Derek and Maeve are very different people with different needs, but they both need tailored support to thrive.

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Council, which is responsible for Maeve’s care, said in a statement: “We are unable to comment on individual cases but we are committed to helping people live independently in their own homes or community settings.

“We work with individuals and their families to tailor support packages to their needs and stay as close to family and friends as possible.

“Our region has a strong record of providing high-quality specialist services for people with learning disabilities or autism.

“This means people from other parts of the country often choose services in this area, making it difficult to find suitable local alternatives.

“We are deeply committed to reducing long-term residential care. We have engaged national experts to conduct an independent review and developed a new strategy to create more suitable housing.

“We have also put additional resources into our complex case teams to ensure needs and supports in community settings are regularly assessed.”

Adrian Local Council said they would not comment on the individual’s care, but said: “If a person’s needs are particularly complex, it may take time to plan and find a suitable care environment that will allow them to settle in and avoid future episodes of care. Admission.”

“It is also important that we consult with all relevant parties, including – most importantly – the individual receiving care and their families, to determine what they feel is the best solution in the circumstances.

“The council’s priority is to ensure that people in our care are placed in an environment where they can begin to live as safely and independently as possible, while receiving an appropriate level of care to meet their needs.”