Health

Locked up for Autism: Thousands detained under mental health law

Published

9 months ago

June 19, 2025

“He didn’t break the law. He just needed help. Now he’s locked in a hospital hundreds of miles away.” — Alun, father of a detained 19-year-old

IN SECURE hospitals across England and Wales, more than 2,000 people with autism or learning disabilities remain locked away under mental health laws — despite never committing a crime.

Many are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, often after being taken by police during a mental health crisis. The vast majority have no mental illness diagnosis. Some are teenagers. A few have been there for decades.

“It’s a human rights scandal,” said Dan Scorer of Mencap. “They’re being institutionalised because society hasn’t built the support they need.”

Autism is not a mental illness. It is widely recognised that for most autistic people, care in an inpatient unit is rarely helpful – in fact, it can be deeply damaging.

The average length of stay is around 4.6 years.

The overwhelming majority (92%) of autistic people and people with a learning disability who are detained in hospitals are put there using the Mental Health Act of 1983.

A NEED FOR URGENT REFORM

For years, the National Autistic Society and tens of thousands of campaigners have called for changes to mental health law.

Reform has been promised, and a bill is making its way through Parliament. However, the government will not commit to funding the reforms the legislation will enact. Even then, campaigners say the law change will not end the scandal of detention.

In April, Denise Cavanagh from Hook, a founder of the Stolen Lives campaign, told BBC Wales that she believed people would still be detained via other laws, including the Mental Capacity Act.

She added: “People with learning disabilities often end up in hospitals because there’s a breakdown in housing and community care, and it’s the only place they can go.

“So, if that community care isn’t there, there is nowhere for them to go and they’ll still be detained.”

And even though health is devolved to Wales, the Welsh Government is relying on a Westminster bill to improve how people with learning disabilities and autism are supported during a crisis.

“THEY CAME WITH HANDCUFFS”

Michelle, from Wiltshire, recounts the day her autistic daughter was detained after a meltdown in a supermarket.

“She was 23. She was overwhelmed. She panicked. That’s all. But the police came and took her away. That was three years ago. She hasn’t been home since.”

Michelle’s story is one of many. Some families describe wards where patients are sedated, isolated, and cut off from loved ones.

Bethany – whose surname cannot be published – was locked in a hospital room in Northampton as a teenager. Her only access to the outside world was through a tiny hatch in the door.

Her father, Jeremy, said he could only see his daughter through a plastic screen or through the six-inch hatch.

“It was cruel. It was torture for my daughter,” he said.

“It broke her human rights, her right to family life, her right to freedom from degrading treatment.”

Even now, several years on from Jeremy’s interview on Radio Four regarding Bethany’s treatment, little has changed. In fact, the data shows a worrying trend towards increased detention of those with mental illness or specific learning difficulties.

NO WAY OUT

Official NHS data reveals the extent of the crisis:

Over 52,000 people were detained under the Mental Health Act in April 2024 — the highest figure in five years.

Over 2,000 of those are autistic or have a learning disability.

As of May 2025, 2,025 autistic people and people with a learning disability are in mental health hospitals in England. Of these, 1,455 (72%) are autistic.
There are 240 under-18s in inpatient units who are autistic or have a learning disability. Of these, 230 (96%) are autistic.
The number of autistic people without a learning disability detained in mental health hospitals has increased by 141% since 2015.
This is the most up-to-date record of how many autistic people and people with a learning disability are currently in mental health hospitals in England.
Despite some progress moving people with a learning disability out of hospitals and into the community, the number of autistic people detained has increased. In 2015, autistic people made up 38% of the total number in hospitals, now it is 72%.

Around 60% of learning disability or autism inpatients have no mental illness diagnosis.

Detained patients are often placed in “out-of-area” units, sometimes hundreds of miles from home.

Toni Dymond, an autistic woman, was detained for over 20 years in psychiatric care without a criminal charge.

“She was isolated, broken,” said her brother in a statement. “It wasn’t treatment. It was abandonment.”

34,685 people were detained by police under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act in 2022–23.

Over 60% were transported in police vehicles, not ambulances.

Autistic woman and author of the memoir Unbroken, Alexis Quinn, spent three years “locked inside” various mental health hospitals, including Assessment and Treatment Units (ATU).

She says: “I was detained under the Mental Health Act and remained so for most of my stay. The Mental Health Act is a piece of legislation which provides a legal framework to detain people when they are mentally ill and require treatment to get better. The interesting thing about a treatment order for an autistic person is that autism is not a mental health condition.

“Whilst mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, can be treated, for autistic people, this has to be done in a way that reflects their needs and understands autism.

“When I was detained under the Mental Health Act, I felt like this was because of behaviour relating to my autism, not because I was mentally ill; the whole process lacked any understanding of the difference between autism and mental illness.”

CHANGE PROMISED, BUT NO MONEY ON THE TABLE

The Mental Health Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, will stop people with a learning disability and autistic people from being detained for treatment. However, the government have said that this change to the law will not be enforced until there is sufficient community support. That means the law will not come into effect until there are enough resources to support its operation. There is no commitment to provide that funding.

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation, a national charity, wants a clear plan, co-produced with people with lived experience, families, and those working within the different parts of the system, setting out what steps will be taken to develop this support and accompanied by the resources to make it happen.

The National Autistic Society says: “We are calling on the government to urgently publish a comprehensive and fully-costed plan for how it intends to build this support.”

So far, that call has been met with silence.

Health

RCN Wales appoints Nicola Williams as Executive Director

Published

2 days ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

NICOLA WILLIAMS will take up the role in April, bringing more than three decades of experience in nursing and senior leadership.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced the appointment of Nicola Williams as its new Executive Director for Wales.

She joins the organisation from Velindre University NHS Trust, where she currently serves as Executive Director for Nursing, Allied Health Professionals and Health Care Scientists. With 38 years of experience in nursing and more than six years at executive board level, she is widely recognised across NHS Wales for her work in improving patient outcomes.

A highly experienced strategic leader, Williams has worked across a wide range of clinical and organisational settings. She has led major transformation programmes, strengthened national clinical leadership networks and championed innovation and evidence-based improvements in care. Her work has contributed to changes adopted across Wales and has been recognised with national awards.

Speaking about her appointment, Nicola Williams said: “I feel privileged to be appointed as Executive Director of RCN Wales. I’m a proud nurse, passionate about patient safety and improving care standards.

“Delivering the best care is only possible when nursing staff are supported to work in safe, inclusive environments. I will stand alongside members and their patients.

“Nursing staff are the backbone of health and care. I am determined to support our members across Wales, wherever they work, to meet the challenges ahead and shape the future of our profession.

“I look forward to meeting members across Wales and ensuring our work is informed by their experiences and expertise.”

In her new role, Williams will lead the RCN’s work in Wales and provide strategic leadership across key priority areas spanning the UK.

She succeeds Helen Whyley, who has held the position since February 2019 and will move into a new role as Director of Service Innovation at the RCN.

Health

Decision pending on adult mental health referral pathway

Published

3 days ago

March 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

HYWEL DDA University Health Board will decide next week whether to make changes to the GP referral pathway for routine adult mental health services permanent.

The decision will be taken at a public Board meeting on Thursday (Mar 26).

Board members will consider a proposal to formalise changes already introduced in Ceredigion and, if approved, roll out the revised pathway across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

Since March 2025, adults in Ceredigion seeking routine mental health support have been advised by their GP to contact the NHS 111 Wales ‘Press 2’ service, rather than being referred directly to the county’s Community Mental Health Team.

The temporary change was introduced in response to ongoing staffing shortages. Health Board officials say the approach has helped maintain timely access to face-to-face assessments for those who need them, while directing initial contact through a single access point.

The 111 ‘Press 2’ service provides telephone assessments by local wellbeing practitioners, supervised by registered mental health nurses, offering advice, support and onward referrals where required.

At its November 2025 meeting, the Board agreed to extend the temporary pathway until the end of March 2026. A nine-week engagement exercise followed, running from December 8 to February 9, to gather feedback from patients, professionals and stakeholders on the potential long-term impact.

Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “I would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views and experiences.

“I would also like to thank West Wales Action for Mental Health for supporting engagement with patients, including those with lived experience, alongside GPs, primary care teams, mental health staff and third sector partners.

“Our priority is to ensure mental health services remain accessible, fair and sustainable. The temporary changes in Ceredigion have shown some positive benefits, and the feedback we have received from across the three counties will play an important role in shaping the Board’s decision.”

The Board will review all evidence and feedback before making a final decision on the future of the adult mental health referral pathway.

GPs will continue to refer patients with urgent or complex needs directly to community mental health teams where appropriate, and have access to a dedicated NHS 111 professional line for additional clinical advice.

Further details, including the full Board papers, are available here:
https://biphdd.gig.cymru/amdanom-ni/eich-bwrdd-iechyd/cyfarfodydd-y-bwrdd-2026/agenda-a-phapuraur-bwrdd-26-mawrth-2026/

The meeting will be streamed live from 9:30am on Thursday (Mar 26) via:
www.youtube.com/hywelddahealthboard1

Health

Parents urged to check children’s vaccinations after meningitis cases

Published

3 days ago

March 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Local pharmacy reports MenB vaccine shortage amid rising concern

PARENTS and carers across west Wales are being urged to check their children’s vaccination status following recent meningitis cases in the UK.

The warning comes as a local pharmacy has confirmed a shortage of the Meningitis B (MenB) vaccine, highlighting growing pressure on supplies.

Mendus Pharmacy said it currently has no availability of the vaccine due to what it described as a nationwide supply issue.

***Mendus Pharmacy: No availability of the vaccine***

In a statement, the pharmacy said: “We would like to inform our patients that, due to ongoing supply issues, we currently have no availability of the Meningitis B vaccine.

“Unfortunately, this is a nationwide shortage and all stock is currently unavailable.

“We understand this may be particularly concerning given the recent outbreak reported in Kent, and we completely appreciate the importance of timely vaccination.”

The pharmacy confirmed it is operating a waiting list and will contact patients once supplies return.

Health officials say keeping vaccinations up to date remains one of the most effective ways to prevent serious illness and reduce pressure on NHS services.

Dr Ardiana Gjini, Executive Director of Public Health at Hywel Dda University Health Board, urged parents to act.

She said: “Vaccination is one of the most effective ways we can protect children and young people from serious illness.

“Ensuring your child is fully vaccinated not only safeguards their health but also helps prevent the spread of infections within our communities.

“I strongly encourage all parents and carers to check their child’s vaccination status. If you are concerned that your child may have missed routine vaccinations, please speak to your GP.”

Meningococcal disease is a serious and potentially life-threatening infection that can lead to meningitis or septicaemia. While many people recover, some are left with long-term physical, neurological or psychological complications. Around one in ten cases can be fatal.

Although the disease can affect anyone, babies, young children, teenagers and young adults are at greatest risk.

In Wales, vaccines protecting against meningococcal strains A, B, C, W and Y are offered as part of the NHS immunisation programme. Infants receive the MenB vaccine, while teenagers are offered the MenACWY vaccine.

Latest figures from the Health Board show that uptake among 16-year-olds for the MenACWY vaccine stands at 76.4%, meaning a significant number of young people remain unprotected as they approach adulthood.

For younger children, uptake of the MenB vaccine is higher but still below the recommended 95% target. Around 92.8% of infants are vaccinated by their first birthday, rising slightly to 91.8% by their second.

Health officials say these figures reflect strong engagement from families and primary care teams but stress that continued vigilance is needed.

Families are being advised to check their child’s vaccination record with their GP or by contacting the Health Board directly. Parents should also ensure babies receive their scheduled MenB doses and that teenagers receive their MenACWY and 3-in-1 booster vaccines, which are currently being delivered in schools.

Parents are also urged to remain alert to the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia and to seek urgent medical advice if they have concerns.

Further information on symptoms is available via NHS 111 Wales.