What a nightmare. Nicholas’ problem seems to be primarily one of resource allocation, namely that uk (America is nondifferent) fails to properly allocate its wealth to serve its mentally and...
What a nightmare.
Nicholas’ problem seems to be primarily one of resource allocation, namely that uk (America is nondifferent) fails to properly allocate its wealth to serve its mentally and emotionally vulnerable.
Trauma. Also, he had a pillow held over his face. He could have brain damage. He was left in a bed and couldn't move, developing bed sores. He is continuously being restrained. He is not allowed...
Trauma.
Also, he had a pillow held over his face. He could have brain damage. He was left in a bed and couldn't move, developing bed sores. He is continuously being restrained. He is not allowed to leave his room for physical exercise. I'm not a medical professional, but it doesn't sound as though that's your particular expertise either, so I'd rather keep off the specifics of what sounds correct or likely. That's not helpful analysis at this point.
I agree that there's some explanations missing, but the core of the story is that the extreme sensory needs of people with what could be one of many issues, is not being properly addressed in the UK medical system. I completely agree that there should be funding and an inquisition, followed by decisive action to bring these peoples lives out of abject abuse and less than third world conditions. God save the king as they say.
There's some context that you're missing, which is important for the UK. The short version is that support in the community is lacking, and people's behaviours escalate until someone decides that...
There's some context that you're missing, which is important for the UK.
The short version is that support in the community is lacking, and people's behaviours escalate until someone decides that this person needs inpatient care, and then they get detained under either MCA or MHA. It's difficult to challenge the mental capacity act detentions. And then once they're in these institutions the care is so brutal that they react in entirely predictable ways, and are then labelled as having "challenging behaviour" or as violent. That means that risk-averse systems refuse to discharge them even if there are places to discharge to.
It's a significant, on-going, abuse on people's human rights. Nothing is being done because politicians have said that it's not affecting enough people.
We've had the independent reports for years and years and years - Cornwall, Winterborne View, Whorlton Hall, St Andrews, etc etc. Priory Group are being criminally prosecuted for corporate manslaughter; an English NHS trust is also being criminally prosecuted for corporate manslaughter. The most recent report is from Baroness Hollins. Here it is:
he got some of his symptoms from being hospitalized
He has been repeatedly restrained, using a mix of prone, supine, or seated restraint. He was on high dose clozapine despite not having a psychotic illness. He's been on a cocktail of medications for a long time, including but not limited to antipsychotics, benzos, z-drugs. He's had limited access to the outside world, and often had limited access to anything outside his room.
with respect - if you don't know anything about the English health and care system you're not informed enough to doubt anything in the report.
I understand why people want to think there must be something more; because it's so horrific that we hope that the story is missing something that would make it explainable. It still sucks to...
I understand why people want to think there must be something more; because it's so horrific that we hope that the story is missing something that would make it explainable. It still sucks to disbelieve the victim's narrative - especially when that is what happens to autistic people far too often anyway.
This happens in the US too, under different laws but similar contexts. But I appreciate the specifics provided about the UK's situation.
And here's the Department for Health and Social Care's response to the report, where they say "Nope", it's not deliverable under current legislation and they have no plans to change the law....
We've only (in the past 10 years) got a common definition of restraint, and how to count it. There are national pieces of work to "reduce restrictive practice", and these focus on the use of rapid tranquilisation, use of restraint (especially prone and supine restraint) and blanket restrictions. One of the problems they're having is that we've told staff that all episodes of restraint now need to be counted, and so it looks like the amount of restraint is going up. It's quite difficult to work out if restraint is increasing or if it's just better reporting.
There's also the balancing act: sometimes people need to be restrained to provide care. Here's a recent case of a mentally ill man with a dislocated and fractured left shoulder. He does not want treatment, but it's thought that the reason he doesn't want treatment is because his mental illness causes delusions that cause him to disbelieve medical staff when they tell him he needs treatment. https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCOP/2023/51.html
Agreed. This is a terrible story, but I can't help feeling like the journalist either missed something or had to adhere to some deadline and omit perspectives. This skips a lot of information. I...
Agreed. This is a terrible story, but I can't help feeling like the journalist either missed something or had to adhere to some deadline and omit perspectives. This skips a lot of information. I hope though that it can raise awareness and help the man.
There's nothing missing, this is the whole story. The only thing missing is the detail about health and social care bureaucracy in England. It really is this bad. These people have done nothing...
There's nothing missing, this is the whole story. The only thing missing is the detail about health and social care bureaucracy in England.
It really is this bad. These people have done nothing wrong (other than responding in entirely predictable ways to the brutal treatment they're getting) and it should be a national scandal.
Nicholas isn't the only case. There are about 200 people in very similar situations, and there are about 1000 people in situations that are nearly as awful.
What a nightmare.
Nicholas’ problem seems to be primarily one of resource allocation, namely that uk (America is nondifferent) fails to properly allocate its wealth to serve its mentally and emotionally vulnerable.
The various providers’ quotes are super cringey.
Trauma.
Also, he had a pillow held over his face. He could have brain damage. He was left in a bed and couldn't move, developing bed sores. He is continuously being restrained. He is not allowed to leave his room for physical exercise. I'm not a medical professional, but it doesn't sound as though that's your particular expertise either, so I'd rather keep off the specifics of what sounds correct or likely. That's not helpful analysis at this point.
I agree that there's some explanations missing, but the core of the story is that the extreme sensory needs of people with what could be one of many issues, is not being properly addressed in the UK medical system. I completely agree that there should be funding and an inquisition, followed by decisive action to bring these peoples lives out of abject abuse and less than third world conditions. God save the king as they say.
There's some context that you're missing, which is important for the UK.
The short version is that support in the community is lacking, and people's behaviours escalate until someone decides that this person needs inpatient care, and then they get detained under either MCA or MHA. It's difficult to challenge the mental capacity act detentions. And then once they're in these institutions the care is so brutal that they react in entirely predictable ways, and are then labelled as having "challenging behaviour" or as violent. That means that risk-averse systems refuse to discharge them even if there are places to discharge to.
It's a significant, on-going, abuse on people's human rights. Nothing is being done because politicians have said that it's not affecting enough people.
We've had the independent reports for years and years and years - Cornwall, Winterborne View, Whorlton Hall, St Andrews, etc etc. Priory Group are being criminally prosecuted for corporate manslaughter; an English NHS trust is also being criminally prosecuted for corporate manslaughter. The most recent report is from Baroness Hollins. Here it is:
My heart breaks - solitary confinement in hospital has no therapeutic benefit for people with a learning disability and autistic people
We have ongoing research about how clinicians implement the mental capacity act and the mental health act, and we have senior judges saying the mental capacity act is like having your head in a washing machine
He has been repeatedly restrained, using a mix of prone, supine, or seated restraint. He was on high dose clozapine despite not having a psychotic illness. He's been on a cocktail of medications for a long time, including but not limited to antipsychotics, benzos, z-drugs. He's had limited access to the outside world, and often had limited access to anything outside his room.
with respect - if you don't know anything about the English health and care system you're not informed enough to doubt anything in the report.
I understand why people want to think there must be something more; because it's so horrific that we hope that the story is missing something that would make it explainable. It still sucks to disbelieve the victim's narrative - especially when that is what happens to autistic people far too often anyway.
This happens in the US too, under different laws but similar contexts. But I appreciate the specifics provided about the UK's situation.
And here's the Department for Health and Social Care's response to the report, where they say "Nope", it's not deliverable under current legislation and they have no plans to change the law. https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2023/11/15/dhsc-rejects-experts-plan-to-curb-inhumane-solitary-confinement-of-disabled-people-in-hospital/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1700071165
We've had plans to amend the Mental Health Act for some time now. Those plans came closest after the publication of the Wessely Review in 2018 - Modernising the Mental Health Act - Increasing Choice, Reducing Compulsion.
The government confirmed, again, that it's not going to follow through with that work by not including it in the King's Speech: https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2023/11/07/mental-health-act-reform-ditched-kings-speech-confirms/
We've only (in the past 10 years) got a common definition of restraint, and how to count it. There are national pieces of work to "reduce restrictive practice", and these focus on the use of rapid tranquilisation, use of restraint (especially prone and supine restraint) and blanket restrictions. One of the problems they're having is that we've told staff that all episodes of restraint now need to be counted, and so it looks like the amount of restraint is going up. It's quite difficult to work out if restraint is increasing or if it's just better reporting.
There's also the balancing act: sometimes people need to be restrained to provide care. Here's a recent case of a mentally ill man with a dislocated and fractured left shoulder. He does not want treatment, but it's thought that the reason he doesn't want treatment is because his mental illness causes delusions that cause him to disbelieve medical staff when they tell him he needs treatment. https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCOP/2023/51.html
Agreed. This is a terrible story, but I can't help feeling like the journalist either missed something or had to adhere to some deadline and omit perspectives. This skips a lot of information. I hope though that it can raise awareness and help the man.
There's nothing missing, this is the whole story. The only thing missing is the detail about health and social care bureaucracy in England.
It really is this bad. These people have done nothing wrong (other than responding in entirely predictable ways to the brutal treatment they're getting) and it should be a national scandal.
Nicholas isn't the only case. There are about 200 people in very similar situations, and there are about 1000 people in situations that are nearly as awful.