National Audit Office report on learning disabilities

A hard hitting NAO report, 'Care services for people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour', reveals that the Government has not met its central goal of moving people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour out of hospital by 1 June 2014.

This is because it underestimated the complexity and level of challenge in meeting the commitments in its action plan.

The report notes that the Department of Health had, by January 2015, allocated around £3.7 million to a number of local authorities who are working with providers to support local discharge arrangements through the provision of appropriate housing.

Moreover, NHS England has an ambition to discharge 50 per cent of the population of 2,600 in-patients with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour to more appropriate care settings by 31 March 2015.

However, in the areas they visited, the report states that establishing enough appropriate housing provision for people with learning disabilities, who are ready for discharge from hospital, is problematic.