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Action plan for patient 'crisis' Action plan for patient 'crisis'
(about 6 hours later)
No child with a learning disability will be living in hospital in two years' time.No child with a learning disability will be living in hospital in two years' time.
That is the key pledge in a £3m action plan announced by the health minister, Paul Goggins on Tuesday.That is the key pledge in a £3m action plan announced by the health minister, Paul Goggins on Tuesday.
But a mental health charity has described the proposals as "atrocious" and "a backward step".
A recent BBC investigation disclosed that more than 100 adults and 17 children with learning disabilities were living in hospital unneccesarily.A recent BBC investigation disclosed that more than 100 adults and 17 children with learning disabilities were living in hospital unneccesarily.
The plan states that by March 2009, no child, and by March 2014, no adult with such disabilities would be in hospital. The new government plan states that by March 2009, no child, and by March 2014, no adult with such disabilities would be in hospital.
The BBC looked at the situation at Muckamore Abbey hospital in Antrim.The BBC looked at the situation at Muckamore Abbey hospital in Antrim.
It found people with severe learning disabilities were being kept in hospital as there was no money to care for them in the community.It found people with severe learning disabilities were being kept in hospital as there was no money to care for them in the community.
One man remained in the unit 10 years after his treatment ended.One man remained in the unit 10 years after his treatment ended.
The minister needs to think a bit further, talk to a wider range of people, visit the community alternative services and then come back with a better plan Maureen PiggottMencap
On Tuesday, Mr Goggins said that 40 people a year should be resettled from hospital back into the community.On Tuesday, Mr Goggins said that 40 people a year should be resettled from hospital back into the community.
"At the moment, about 25 patients a year are being settled back in community."At the moment, about 25 patients a year are being settled back in community.
"We are going to accelerate that programme so that we get that up to 40 people a year," the health minister said."We are going to accelerate that programme so that we get that up to 40 people a year," the health minister said.
He added that action was beginning immediately, with four young people being placed back in the community.He added that action was beginning immediately, with four young people being placed back in the community.
However, Maureen Piggott of mental health charity, Mencap, said she felt that the the minister's announcement was "a backward step".
"He (Mr Goggins) has taken what he has assured us was new money and used it in old ways," she said.
"What we heard this morning is really just doing more of the same - reinforcing the dependence on hospital and a short term response."
Ms Piggott said that an action plan drawn up over two weeks was not the answer.
"The minister needs to think a bit further, talk to a wider range of people, visit the community alternative services and then come back with a better plan," she said.
The BBC learned that more than 100 adults with learning disabilities had had their discharge from hospital delayed for an average of three and a half years.The BBC learned that more than 100 adults with learning disabilities had had their discharge from hospital delayed for an average of three and a half years.