Luciana Berger MP, Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Minister for Mental Health, responding to The Health and Social Care Information Centre’s Learning Disability Census 2015, published today, which shows over a quarter of inpatients experienced one or more adverse experience and restrictive measure, said:

“This report raises many serious questions about the care of patients with learning disabilities.

“These are some of the most vulnerable people that our NHS looks after but more patients this year have had to travel long distances just to get a bed. It is appalling that over a quarter of inpatients experienced an adverse experience such as accidents, physical assault and self-harm, during their time in hospital.

“In the week when serious failures at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust are coming to light, these findings are all the more troubling.  Minister must act now to address these concerns.”