About 3,500 vulnerable disabled people are still languishing in state institutions, despite a pledge was taken to move them into proper care in the community.

‘The NHS report suggested that 10,000 extra staff members will be needed to support people with learning disabilities.’

In 2011, the BBC's undercover documentary team filmed abuse of patients with learning disabilities at the Winterbourne View private hospital near Bristol.




Sir Stephen was then asked by NHS England to examine how to address "serious shortcomings" in the support for those with learning disabilities.
In a report published by Sir Stephen in November 2014, ‘Time for Change’ he said that many people were being kept in hospitals far from home for far too long.
He made 10 recommendations, including closing large "inappropriate in-patient facilities" for care services for people in their own community.
He has demanded the Government to appoint a learning disabilities commissioner for a charter of rights to be drawn up for people with learning disabilities and their families.
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"I have spoken directly to people whose experience of these services goes back far beyond 2011 and Winterbourne View. So this report expresses the views and experiences of the people most affected by change.”
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He said services in England still have "a long way to go before the system can be trusted, and we still have a long way to go in convincing people with learning disabilities that change will happen".
He warned that at least 1,300 people will move out of hospital care by 2019. There is a critical need to deliver housing for the vulnerable. An extra 10,000 staff will be needed to support people with learning disabilities in their own community.
The report stated that housing for people with learning disabilities should be exempt from proposed housing benefits caps.
Jan Tregelles, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, and Vivien Cooper, chief executive of the Challenging Behaviour Foundation, said, “now is the time to restore people's faith in the system.”
"People with a learning disability and their families have endured nearly five years of failure by national and local government, and the NHS to bring about meaningful change for the 3,500 people in in-patient units.This has left people often far from home in units where they are at increased risk of abuse and neglect, their families fighting to bring loved ones home.”
"This is taking place as the NHS and local government are spending an estimated £600 million a year on buying the wrong kind of care for thousands of people. Now is an opportunity to restore faith, where so far there has been repeated failure, and build the community support people with a learning disability and their families want and have been promised."
Source-Medindia