Mother likens autistic son’s 10-month hospital stay to imprisonment

A mother whose autistic son has been hospitalized for ten months has stated that he is being confined and deprived of a future. Amanda reported that her 19-year-old son, Sebastian, is considered fit for discharge, but the health trust has been unable to secure suitable accommodation for him due to his complex needs. The Southern Health Trust confirmed its ongoing communication directly with the family to identify the most appropriate care environment. BBC News NI’s inquiries to all trusts revealed that at least 22 individuals in adult mental health hospitals are eligible for discharge but have no available place to go. One patient has remained in hospital for over a year. Sebastian was born with autism and is non-verbal. He first entered respite care at the age of four, as his mother required assistance because she found his behavior increasingly difficult to manage at home. Subsequently, he moved into a children’s home designed to cater to his needs. However, upon reaching 18 years of age, he could no longer reside there due to age restrictions. Following a severe behavioral episode in January, he was admitted to a mental health hospital. Amanda, from Craigavon, said: “My son is living in hospital because he has autism, plain and simple.” She added: “He’s autistic, has complex behaviours, and I feel like nobody could be bothered with him any more.” She further stated: “My child does not belong in a building like that; every specialist that he has come across and even his psychiatrists have said he does not belong there.” She indicated that her son was deemed medically fit for discharge from the hospital just two weeks after his admission. However, the local trust has been unsuccessful in locating appropriate housing. His mother acknowledged the competence of the staff caring for her son but suggested that a team with greater experience was necessary to address his behavioral challenges. “To see his giant teddy bear sitting on the bed beside him… he is stressed,” she commented. She continued: “I feel like he is being treated like a prisoner with limited access to the outside world. He has no life.” She concluded: “He has the mind of a child. It’s so unfair.” The nature of the accommodation required is contingent upon the patient’s specific needs; it can be a supported-living arrangement, a residential care facility, or housing supplied by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. The various trusts convene bi-weekly as members of a body referred to as the resettlement oversight group, where they deliberate on placement options. The BBC, via a Freedom of Information request, has reviewed minutes from several of these gatherings. These documents indicated that the Department of Health acknowledged the scarcity of community placements as a significant impediment to facilitating prompt discharge from inpatient care. Kerry Boyd, representing Autism NI, reported that a review of adult autism services is currently underway in Northern Ireland. She stated: “Many families tell us that they are deeply concerned about the lack of provision for their children post-18, whether that is in relation to lifelong learning, mental health, employment, or supported living.” She further asserted: “It is crucial that autistic adults are allowed to have the same opportunities to live an independent life as the rest of society, and that means there must be supports in place for them to live within appropriate housing too.” A spokesperson for the Southern Trust, responsible for Sebastian’s care, commented: “As part of that care, all our in-patients have access to green spaces alongside opportunities to participate in purposeful and meaningful daily activities.“ They added: “We remain committed to working with other partner agencies to find the most suitable supports and placements for individuals with complex needs.” The spokesperson also noted that fewer than five other individuals were experiencing a comparable situation. Furthermore, they mentioned the presence of 10 residential facilities within the trust’s jurisdiction, registered with the care home watchdog, which offer services for individuals with mental illness. The spokesperson elaborated: “However, it is not possible to specify the number of beds available as the suitability of each placement is based on assessed needs.” They concluded: “The Southern Trust cannot comment on the waiting list policy for admission to each independent sector care home.” As of October 28, 2024, the Northern Trust reported 10 patients in adult mental health wards who were medically cleared for discharge but needed a residential placement. The duration of these delays varied from four days to 354 days. The trust explained that the patient with the longest wait required a specialized placement, which had been identified twice but could not proceed due to altered circumstances. The South Eastern Trust indicated that two patients in adult mental health wards were considered fit for discharge; one had been waiting for 16 days, and the other for four months. Both are awaiting housing provisions from the Housing Executive. As of November 4, 2024, the Western Trust also had two patients in this predicament. One of these individuals has been waiting for 70 days. A spokesperson further stated: “There are 204 adult mental health supported living placements across the Western Trust area,” The Belfast Trust reported having fewer than five patients in this category, with the longest waiting period currently at 105 days.