Grandmother Hopes to See Autistic Grandson Discharged After Two Years in Hospital

An 81-year-old grandmother informed the BBC of her wish to live long enough to witness her autistic grandson’s release from the hospital where he has resided for two years. Dorothy Lafferty stated that medical professionals had previously determined that 28-year-old Andrew no longer requires hospital care, yet no appropriate alternative placement is available for him. Andrew requires a dedicated care team and a tranquil living environment, as loud surroundings exacerbate his anxiety. Upcoming data is anticipated to reveal a rise in the population of individuals with learning disabilities and autism who remain in hospital settings or unsuitable placements geographically distant from their homes. This trend persists despite government ministers’ commitments to resolve the issue by March of the current year. In February 2022, ministers initially pledged to relocate most individuals in hospital to their own community-based homes. Data collection commenced, and the inaugural dynamic support register was released a year ago. The most recent statistics indicate that on 26 September, 1,545 individuals were listed on the dynamic support register, with 486 categorized as urgent cases. Among these, 195 individuals were hospitalized, and 85 of them were identified as delayed discharges. Upon the register’s initial publication a year prior, it listed 1,243 individuals, with 455 deemed urgent. Andrew has resided in a 20-bed adult mental health unit at Stobhill hospital in Glasgow for two and a half years. For two years of this period, he has been officially classified as a delayed discharge, meaning he should have been able to return home; however, no appropriate housing is available for him. His grandmother, Dorothy, has provided care for Andrew since he was two years old, a time when his mother required assistance while battling brain cancer. Andrew’s mother succumbed to cancer when he was 12, leading him to experience severe anxiety and difficulty coping. Dorothy, residing in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, noted that Andrew attended a mainstream school and performed well, but his mother’s death caused him profound distress. She explained that he struggled to comprehend how someone he prayed for could have passed away. Following his schooling, he encountered difficulties in various placements and apartments due to excessive noise levels. Subsequently, he was admitted to a mental health ward as his symptoms intensified, but two years ago, he was deemed ready for discharge with appropriate support. Similar to hundreds of other individuals with learning disabilities or autism who are confined to units or hospitals, he still lacks a suitable place to reside. Experts attribute this situation to insufficient suitable housing, a scarcity of care personnel, and occasional failures to prioritize those in restricted environments. In a message to the BBC, Andrew stated: “I would like a place of my own with not a lot of people there.” He expressed apprehension about departing the hospital due to his prolonged stay. His autism presents challenges with consuming hospital food, and he frequently experiences too much anxiety to join others in the dining area. His grandmother consistently prepares tuna sandwiches for him and delivers them to the hospital. Dorothy noted that Andrew perceives many situations as overly stressful and is concerned about who will care for him after her passing. She remarked, “I keep thinking I’m