Statement on Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on resettlement of Learning Disability patients

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey said helping people with learning disabilities live independent lives in the community remains a top priority for his Department.

Commenting on the Public Accounts Committee report on the Resettlement of Long Stay Patients from Learning Disability Hospitals, the Minister said his Department will contribute fully to addressing all the recommendations in this report.

He said: “Since becoming Health Minister, I have made learning disability one of my main priorities. I remain committed to helping people with learning disabilities live as independently as possible in the community.

“However, the process of resettlement is a complex one. Many patients have severe learning disabilities and require constant care and attention. For others it is essential that they are placed in a community setting which offers them support, security and companionship. Such an approach needs a collective effort across government, as outlined in the Bamford Action Plan.

The Minister said: “Since 2008 my Department has set specific targets for the resettlement programme. These have been met and I am confident that the target for 2010/11 will also be met. Therefore, for the many individuals who have been resettled, the principle of “betterment” already applies. This simply means that patients, are provided with services appropriate to their needs and with the potential for a better quality the life in the community.

“As we move forward with the resettlement programme, I will repeat that no one will be forced to leave a long-stay hospital against their or their family’s wishes.”

Continuing the Minister said that while he would like to do more to complete the programme of resettlement, this cannot be achieved without major additional investment. He said: “Therefore, I call on my Executive colleagues to recognise the importance of this issue, and to provide additional investment to secure supported living and care in the community. This is essential if we, as a society, want individuals with a learning disability and their families to be valued members of society.

“In the meantime, I remain committed to ensuring people with a learning disability have access to the very best health and social care services available, within available resources.”

A detailed memorandum of reply will be made by the Department of Finance and Personnel to the issues raised.

Notes to editors:

1. The Bamford Action Plan which was published in October 2010, and endorsed by the Executive, contained a target to resettle all individuals with a learning disability from longstay hospitals by 2013, and that no one would remain unnecessarily in hospital.
2. Evidence submitted to the PAC highlighted that the additional investment required for the resettlement programme to meet the 2013 target was £9 million for DHSSPS to provide health and social care, plus £30 million capital and £4 m revenue for DSD to provide appropriate accommodation and support to live independently in the community.
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