RCPsych responds to the Health and Social Care Committee report on 'The treatment of autistic people and people with learning disabilities'

Statement / comment
14 July 2021

Dr Ken Courtenay, Chair of the Intellectual Disability faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Dr Ian Davidson, Autism Champion at the Royal College of Psychiatrists respond to the Health and Social Care Select Committee's report on the treatment of autistic people and people with learning disabilities.

“We welcome the Health and Social Care Select Committee’s recommendations on the treatment of autistic people and people with learning disabilities in their new report.

Autistic people and people with learning disabilities face greater barriers to access the mental health treatment that they require. It is important that access and services are improved to center around the needs of some of our most vulnerable patients, including through greater investment in community-based services that are closer to home.” 

If the recommendations in the report are implemented it will be a major step towards ensuring that autistic people and those with learning disabilities receive the high-quality care they need with dignity and respect.”

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