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Specialist inpatient services for people with learning disabilities across the four countries of the UK
- Author:
- HATTON Chris
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 21(4), 2016, pp.220-225.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to compare data from national censuses on specialist inpatient service use by people with learning disabilities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Design/methodology/approach: National statistics (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) reporting inpatient service censuses including people with learning disabilities were accessed, with data extracted on trends over time, rate of service use, young people and length of stay. Findings: The number and rate of people with learning disabilities in specialist inpatient services varied across the UK: 230 people in Scotland (rate 4.88 per 100,000 population); 3,250 people in England (5.48); 183 people in Wales (5.90); 144 people in Northern Ireland (7.82). The number of people in inpatient services in Northern Ireland halved over four years, in other areas reductions were modest. Between 5 and 8 per cent of people in inpatient services were children/young people. Median length of stay in the person’s current inpatient service varied: 19 months in England; 33 months in Scotland; three to five years in Northern Ireland. Social implications: Different parts of the UK vary in the scale of their specialist inpatient services for people with learning disabilities. With the exception of Northern Ireland, which may still be in the last stages of completing a “regular” deinstitutionalisation programme, strong policy prescriptions for substantial reductions in specialist inpatient services are currently only resulting in modest reductions. Originality/value: This paper is a first attempt to compare national inpatient service statistics across the UK. With increasing divergence of health and social service systems, further comparative analyses of services for people with learning disabilities are needed. (Publisher abstract)
General hospital care for people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- GLOVER Gyles, FOX Sebastian, HATTON Chris
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 21(1), 2016, pp.43-49.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent of compliance of commissioners and providers of hospital services in England with their duty under equalities legislation to be aware of patients with intellectual disabilities as a first step to making appropriate provision for their consequent specific needs. Design/methodology/approach: National survey of healthcare commissioners undertaken as part of an annual learning disabilities services audit. Findings: In total, 41.4 per cent of local areas were unable to supply information about numbers of people with intellectual disabilities among those admitted to hospital, 46.7 and 48 per cent, respectively, could not supply this information about out-patient and accident and emergency department attenders. Figures supplied by those able to provide data varied very substantially and overall were so low as to suggest considerable numbers had been missed. Research limitations/implications: The study is testing what local health commissioners are able to find out from hospitals. The authors do not know the accuracy of the data they reported. Practical implications: The study suggests approaching half of healthcare commissioners in England have little or no information about the extent of proper adjustment of hospital care for people with intellectual disability in their area. Their responsibility to assure this has been repeatedly asserted by government. Social implications: The study indicates a need for more work to improve hospital care for people with intellectual disabilities. Originality/value: This was a government sponsored national study to which local healthcare commissioners were expected to contribute. (Publisher abstract)