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Opening the door to a new life for people with learning disabilities

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH News Release (2007/0233) issued by The Government News Network on 9 August 2007

£175 million to build new homes in the community signals the end of institutions

People with learning disabilities will no longer face the prospect of being institutionalised as a result of landmark action announced Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis today.

Mr Lewis opened a bidding process for £175million for Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts to make the transition from providing campus accommodation to more appropriate independent arrangements for those with learning disabilities.

Currently at least 1600 people who have a learning disability live in NHS campuses and are not given the opportunity to develop important social skills, or the freedom to make everyday decisions.

This funding will give Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts enough money to make sure we provide housing and day facilities which will ensure that whilst living in the community, individuals receive the necessary support to make a smooth transition to a better way of life.

Before leaving the NHS campus each person will be individually assessed and given a 'person centred care plan' to ensure they will continue to receive the correct support in their new way of living.

Announcing the opening of the bidding process, Ivan Lewis said:

"This announcement will bring to a close one of the darkest chapters in our nation's history. Putting people with learning disabilities in hospitals and large scale institutions was a scandal which disfigured our society. People who are neither a danger to themselves or others have the right to live in the community.

"I am proud of the fact that by 2010 the remaining residents in NHS campuses will move into the community. Every individual will receive high quality support at a level required to ensure they have a full life. No one will be left isolated and vulnerable. This decision underlines the Government's belief that people with learning disabilities are people first with a right to expect equality of citizenship."

Welcoming the announcement, Dame Jo Williams from MENCAP said:

"Mencap welcomes the closure of NHS campuses. People with a learning disability should have the opportunity to make choices about where and how they live. The funding provides the incentive for Primary Care Trusts, in conjunction with local authorities, to get on with closure plans, so people with a learning disability can live their lives the way they want, within their community."

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. Many campuses are in the South East, but most regions in England have people living in Campuses

Strategic Health Authority     Campus-Number of people *
      South West                     317
      South Central                  123
      South East Coastal             101
      London                         250
      Eastern                        254
      East Midlands                  260
      West Midlands                  195
      Yorkshire and Humber           37
      North East                     66 North West                     6
      Totals                         1609 

- This list is compiled from voluntary data gathered by Valuing People Support Team regional advisors.

- From October 2007, NHS providers and commissioners are mandated to provide data every 6 months, progressing towards the 2010 closure date (Ref: ROCR/OR/0204).

2. In the white paper: Our health Our care Our say (2006) we committed to closing all NHS campuses by 2010.

3. Capital Funding of £175m will be available every year for 3 years, from 2007-08 to 2009-10. PCTs who are ready with their reprovision plans can bid for capital funding this year, and must show that they can spend the money on capital within this financial year. If PCTs are not ready with their plans to bid this year, they can send us an indication of their reprovision plans and how much capital money they might need next year and the year after.

4. Long stay learning disability hospitals were set up in 1913 and many people with learning disabilities lived in these so called 'colonies'. When the NHS was formed in 1945 the colonies became hospitals, in 1969 there were 60,000 people living in these. In the 1970s the Government were keen to see people moved out of these hospitals. In 1993 The Community Care Act changed the way that people got money for support. A lot of people had already moved out of hospitals by then and many of these were living in houses ran by NHS Trusts who had run the hospitals. These were the NHS campuses.

5. In 2001 Valuing People said that people with learning disabilities should not be living in hospitals. In 2006 Our Health Our Care Our Say said people should not be living in campuses either, and now the Government is taking supportive action to ensure this plan becomes a reality.

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