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26.05.15

New service model to tackle ‘weaknesses’ in learning disability care

NHS England is to develop a new service model that ensures patients with learning disabilities and autism can receive quality care in the “most appropriate setting”. 

This comes after the care and treatment reviews (CTRs) programme ‘underlined’ weaknesses in community care for people with learning disabilities and autism, which contributes to both hospital admissions and delayed discharges. 

In an NHS England board report paper, Jane Cummings, chief nursing officer and NHS Learning Disability Programme senior responsible officer, highlighted that the new model will be delivered to “give a clearer national view on what in-patient capacity we need and no longer need”. 

The work is being done in partnership with the LGA (Local Government Association) and ADASS (the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services), with input from a wide range of stakeholders. 

“The service model will describe the range of support and services people with learning disabilities and their carers can expect to support them to live their lives as they choose,” said Cummings. “It will provide a consistent framework to be used across England. The model will set out principles, standards and outcomes for services and describe person-centred support that will minimise the use of inpatient services and allow people to remain as close to home as possible.” 

It is planned that that framework will be ready for appropriate consultation in July. 

In her paper, Cummings also noted that more than 1,400 CTRs have been carried out to date. Also, as at 31 March 2015, 30% of patients (over 650 people) who were in hospital on 1 April 2014, according to the Assuring Transformation data collection, had been discharged into the community and around 12% - 13% were transferred into more suitable inpatient settings. 

However, the CTRs revealed a number of barriers to discharge that have meant that not all patients could be discharged within the desired time period. These included a lack of agreement on a future plan; no person-centred plan on which to base a service specification; and the lack of a suitable care provider. 

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