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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| 'Trapped patients' inquiry call | 'Trapped patients' inquiry call |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| There have been calls for an inquiry into the crisis facing some mental health patients at Muckamore Abbey. | |
| A BBC investigation found people with severe learning disabilities are being kept in hospital as there is no money to care for them in the community. | A BBC investigation found people with severe learning disabilities are being kept in hospital as there is no money to care for them in the community. |
| One man remains in the unit 10 years after his treatment ended. | |
| The Department of Health said its policy had enabled a significant number of patients with learning disabilities to be resettled in the community. | |
| Alliance Party leader David Ford said urgent steps need to be taken to address the matter. | Alliance Party leader David Ford said urgent steps need to be taken to address the matter. |
| "I think there are three things to be done: the Human Rights Commission should conduct an investigation on the apparent breach of individuals' rights," he said. | "I think there are three things to be done: the Human Rights Commission should conduct an investigation on the apparent breach of individuals' rights," he said. |
| "The trust needs to look at its functions to see if it can do something better at the moment, and the minister needs to commit to the funding recommended by the Bamford Report on mental health." | "The trust needs to look at its functions to see if it can do something better at the moment, and the minister needs to commit to the funding recommended by the Bamford Report on mental health." |
| The father of a teenage boy at Muckamore said his son, who has learning difficulties, and other children were "forgotten about". | The father of a teenage boy at Muckamore said his son, who has learning difficulties, and other children were "forgotten about". |
| The man still there after 10 years is one of 118 people whose treatment is complete - but his discharge has been delayed because there's nowhere suitable for him to go Dot KirbyBBC NI health correspondent | The man still there after 10 years is one of 118 people whose treatment is complete - but his discharge has been delayed because there's nowhere suitable for him to go Dot KirbyBBC NI health correspondent |
| "It is a hard place for children and it is difficult for parents. There are not the facilities outside to help children when they come out," he said. | "It is a hard place for children and it is difficult for parents. There are not the facilities outside to help children when they come out," he said. |
| "He has been there since September, and he could be there for another six months - it is very hard for a young boy of 13-years-old. | "He has been there since September, and he could be there for another six months - it is very hard for a young boy of 13-years-old. |
| "I would like to see more money spent up there. They are trying to demolish some of the older units, but facilities for young children are badly needed at Muckamore." | "I would like to see more money spent up there. They are trying to demolish some of the older units, but facilities for young children are badly needed at Muckamore." |
| The BBC has learned that well over 100 adults with learning disabilities have had their discharge from hospital delayed for an average of three and a half years. | The BBC has learned that well over 100 adults with learning disabilities have had their discharge from hospital delayed for an average of three and a half years. |
| The patients are all in Muckamore Abbey Hospital, County Antrim. | |
| Supervision | Supervision |
| BBC NI health correspondent Dot Kirby said: "The man still there after 10 years is one of 118 people whose treatment is complete - but his discharge has been delayed because there's nowhere suitable for him to go. | BBC NI health correspondent Dot Kirby said: "The man still there after 10 years is one of 118 people whose treatment is complete - but his discharge has been delayed because there's nowhere suitable for him to go. |
| "For over 10 years, there has been a policy that no-one should live long term in hospital. | "For over 10 years, there has been a policy that no-one should live long term in hospital. |
| "Hospitals like Muckamore should be used to assess and treat people prior to their discharge." | "Hospitals like Muckamore should be used to assess and treat people prior to their discharge." |
| Families and politicians have called for an inquiry | Families and politicians have called for an inquiry |
| She said it would be wrong to suggest that no progress has been made. | She said it would be wrong to suggest that no progress has been made. |
| "Over the years, the population of Muckamore has more than halved as people have been moved to more appropriate accommodation." | "Over the years, the population of Muckamore has more than halved as people have been moved to more appropriate accommodation." |
| Now some have expressed concern that these people's human rights are being abused. | Now some have expressed concern that these people's human rights are being abused. |
| Andrew McCormick, permanent secretary at the Department of the Health, said the trust and the boards had "worked very hard to try and find a better solution". | Andrew McCormick, permanent secretary at the Department of the Health, said the trust and the boards had "worked very hard to try and find a better solution". |
| He said it was an unacceptable situation. | He said it was an unacceptable situation. |
| "If there was a quick-fix available, we would have found that," he said. | "If there was a quick-fix available, we would have found that," he said. |
| "The minister has asked me to look at this immediately to appoint a senior official within two weeks to secure information about the total situation... then we can look at what we can do. | "The minister has asked me to look at this immediately to appoint a senior official within two weeks to secure information about the total situation... then we can look at what we can do. |
| "But, there aren't easy options available - we may have to find a difficult option and adopt it." | "But, there aren't easy options available - we may have to find a difficult option and adopt it." |