A mother has slammed the treatment of her autistic son who was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for young people and adults four years ago – and has been detained behind a hatch in an old file room.
Nicola (50) often feels overwhelmed when visiting her son, known as patient A, 24 years old. He has ‘become totally institutionalized’ and is able to spend most of his time by himself, without having any contact with anyone.
Every day he wakes up later than usual, and is able to play computer games. His meals are also passed by the staff through a wooden hatch, which allows him to eat on his own.
Patient A, who also has a learning disability and Tourette’s syndrome, has been detained under the Mental Health Act since September 2017.
Nicola (50) has criticized the way her son, an autistic child, was treated at a psychiatric hospital. He had been admitted four years earlier. Since then, he has been held behind a hatch in an old filing room.
The secure 423 square foot apartment which features a garden – with a cycling track and trampoline – a snug room, lounge, bedroom and bathroom
CCTV monitors the apartment 24 hours a day. It is approximately the same size as a large living area.
At age 14, he was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital’s unit for severe mental patients. He had started ‘lashing out at’ his grandmother, brother and mother.
Nicola claims that her son was a normal child up to the age 12 and had a happy childhood. At the age of seven, he was diagnosed autistic. Later, at the age of 12, Nicola discovered that he had Tourette’s syndrome and a learning impairment.
By age 20, he was admitted to Mersey Lodge at Cheadle Royal Hospital and spends his time in a secure 423 square foot apartment that features a garden – with a cycling track and trampoline – a snug room, lounge, bedroom and bathroom.
CCTV cameras are installed throughout the building. The apartment has the dimensions of a living room.
Cheadle Royal Hospital received the CQC report in November. It was rated’requires improvement’. Inspectors also gave it an ‘inadequate rating’.
Nicola stated that people wouldn’t care for an animal like she does her son, and that his treatment is ‘worse’ than being held in jail.
Nicola, in an investigation conducted by The Sunday Times said that sometimes she had to escape just so she could breathe.
“Being stuck in a box doesn’t work for autism.” Only thing that he can look forward to is what I give to him. A PlayStation. A mobile phone. Films. Takeaways. They are monitoring him in every room that he goes into. For a 24-year-old, that’s a lot of life.
During the visits with her son, Nicola ‘dreads’ going into the viewing room where she sits on a chair and speaks to her son through an ‘eight-inch gap underneath a Perspex screen’ because she is faced with the ‘reality’ of her son’s situation.
Liverpool resident Nicola will launch a court battle at the Court of Protection for her husband’s release from his life in a Box’.
She asks for a judge’s review of his Mental Health Act section and to provide guidance on how to get a home in the community.
Nicola asks Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (License City Council) to assist her in arranging a placement for her community.
Nicola stated that her son wakes up at night, plays computer games most days and eats his meal through a wooden hatch.
She stated, “We are fully aware that my son is complex and needs to be treated well.
“He is locked up from the outside world, and has never had any physical contact with anybody.” It is horrible that his food must be forced through the tiny hole at the bottom of the hatch.
“People would not treat animals that way, and his treatment is more harmful than being held in jail.”
He is capable of overcoming challenges and can be loved and supported by others.
“He has no money at the moment. Because of his conditions, I cannot even hug or hold him.
Nicola would like Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group to assist her in securing a placement for the community.
With the right support, she says that her son will flourish and enjoy more time with family.
She said, “Every time that I see him, it breaks mine heart. He doesn’t have a quality of life.
“Some people in my care for my son have said that it isn’t working out and that patient A can, with the right support, get care in the community.
“It is difficult to not think that the more he stays, the worse his situation will get until he can no longer be free.
“This isn’t about money. Five carers are assigned to him every day.
This staffing level is expensive and probably wasteful, as he is not in direct contact with any other person.
Cheadle Royal Hospital, which was published by CQC in November was given the summary of its condition and was called’required improvements’. Safety inspectors also graded it as ‘inadequate.
We keep asking for more support for my son and nothing happens. It’s been impossible for us to resist this decision.
“All that I desire is for my son to have the best possible life.
Kirsty Stuart is an Irwin Mitchell expert in public law and human right lawyer representing Patient A. and Nicola. She stated: “This is another instance where loved ones of persons with autism or a learning disability are held in units that were not intended to care for patients such as Patient A.
Nicola’s firsthand description of what is happening to her son, “is probably the most horrible I have ever heard.”
“Understandably patient A’s family is deeply worried. These concerns are being investigated and the legal process is being used to help the family.
“We appeal to The Priory and CCG to negotiate with Patient A’s family about the care of their loved one. The family feels that the patient should remain in the community because it will give them the greatest quality of life.
According to NHS Digital, 2,040 individuals with autism and learning disabilities were admitted to hospitals in August.
One hundred and fifty-seven percent of them had spent more than two years in the hospital.
The average cost to the tax payer of keeping a person detained in hospital is thought to be £3,563 per week or £185,276 per year.
MailOnline received a statement from a Priory spokesperson saying that their number one priority is the welfare of all people. The Transforming Care Agenda is our top priority. We will ensure that well-planned transfers are made to the best community settings when they become available.
“Our Adult Care division provided the placements with positive outcomes to at least 39 of these individuals. However, it is not always easy to place individuals with complex behavior, who are often detained under the Mental Health Act.
“We work with the families and commissioners of NHSE at all times to ensure that our patients get the most safe and appropriate care. This care is provided and reviewed regularly by a multi-disciplinary team, which includes a consultant psychiatrist, an NHS autism specialist and commissioners.
Mersey lodge has staff that provide support round the clock. Every intervention is carefully reviewed, monitored, and evaluated to ensure the patient’s best interests. The goal of the hospital is to create the most restrictive environment possible.
“Medication must be prescribed only by a psychiatrist. Patients who are held under MHA will have to agree with a second independent doctor of the CQC. Our goal is to make sure that people are safe by reducing the doses of medication.