Protests at the Senedd as campaigners accuse Welsh Government of failing autistic and learning-disabled people

A MAJOR new mental health strategy promising same-day support in Wales has been overshadowed by rising anger from families who say vulnerable people are still being detained in hospitals simply because of their disabilities or autism.

The Welsh Government says its ten-year plan will transform mental health support by focusing on early help, social prescribing, and same-day access via GPs and community services. The NHS’s urgent 111 helpline—where callers can “press 2” for mental health support—is now receiving nearly 6,000 calls a month.

But critics say that behind the numbers lies a more troubling story—one of systemic failure for people with learning disabilities and autism.

On Wednesday, April 17, protesters from the Stolen Lives campaign gathered outside the Senedd in Cardiff Bay to accuse ministers of inaction. The campaign was founded by Dr. Dawn Cavanagh, from Hook, Pembrokeshire, whose own son is detained in a secure mental health hospital.

“We are talking about people being imprisoned without committing any crime,” said Dr. Cavanagh. “Their only crime is being disabled. It has traumatised us as a family.”

The protest brought together families, carers, disability rights groups and allies. Holding placards and banners, they demanded urgent reform and meaningful investment in community care to prevent people being “shut away” in hospitals for years at a time.

Many of those detained are sent far from their families, often to private facilities in England, due to a lack of appropriate housing and support in Wales.

“We’ve had endless promises, meetings, reports—but nothing changes,” said one protester. “We are tired of being told our case is unique. We’re not. This is a national scandal.”

Sophie Hinksman, 39, from Pembrokeshire, was sectioned in 2016 and says she still lives with the trauma.

“If I’d got the right support at home, everything would have been okay,” she said. “Instead I was taken away and left to deteriorate. I’m still trying to come back from that.”

The UK Government’s new Mental Health Bill—adopted in part by the Welsh Government—claims it will limit the ability to detain autistic and learning-disabled people under the Mental Health Act unless they have a co-occurring mental illness. But campaigners say this won’t stop detentions unless proper alternatives are funded.

“If community care isn’t there, they’ll still be detained—just under different legislation like the Mental Capacity Act,” said Dr. Cavanagh.

Data published by the Welsh Government shows 135 people with a learning disability are currently in specialist inpatient services in Wales. In England, over 2,000 people with learning disabilities or autism are detained, and around half have been held for more than two years.

Campaigners say many of those individuals were initially admitted due to crises brought on by poor housing, isolation, or lack of support staff. Once inside, people deteriorate further, delaying discharge indefinitely.

‘Hospitals are not homes’

Joe Powell, Chief Executive of All Wales People First, told the crowd at the Senedd: “Wales led the way 41 years ago with the All Wales Strategy. It said hospitals are not homes and people should live in the community. Now we are going backwards.”

Despite claims of progress, families say that local Health Boards and councils face little accountability when placements fail.

The Welsh Government insists it is committed to reducing inpatient numbers and improving care. A spokesperson said: “We do not agree that people with learning disabilities are being systematically detained inappropriately. Where hospital care is used, a care plan must be in place and reviewed regularly.”

But campaigners are not reassured.

“It’s like the Post Office scandal,” said one mother at the protest. “They told each family their situation was unique—but the problem was the system all along.”

There is hope — but no time to waste

Elsewhere in Wales, community-based support is making a difference—when it’s available.

Sian McEvoy, 41, from Swansea, began volunteering at a local community farm after a long period of alcohol dependency and anxiety.

“When I was drinking, I didn’t leave the house for three years,” she said. “Now I’m out in the community, working with animals. It’s helped my mental health and given me the confidence to think about getting back into work.”

Steffan Thomas, 24, who is autistic, has volunteered at the same farm for four years.

“If I miss a week, I feel it,” he said. “This place keeps me grounded.”

Health experts say these are the kinds of solutions that need long-term investment—not short-term pilots.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, a Bevan Commission member, said: “Social prescribing and early intervention can prevent crisis—but only if the infrastructure is there. Without it, the NHS will be overwhelmed, and vulnerable people will fall through the cracks.”

As protesters packed up their banners outside the Senedd, Dr. Cavanagh said: “We don’t want more empty promises. We want people to come home.”

Welsh Government says ‘a major shift’ is under way

The Welsh Government insists its new 10-year strategy marks a turning point for mental health care in Wales.

Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Sarah Murphy said: “This strategy represents a major shift in how we approach mental health and wellbeing. We are focusing on prevention, early intervention, and ensuring easy access to support when needed.”

The new strategy aims to expand open access and same-day support, building on the 111 “press 2” helpline and introducing a stepped care model, where people only move into more intensive treatment when truly necessary.

It also promotes person-centred care and social prescribing, such as linking people with community groups and activities instead of relying solely on clinical interventions.

“We’re working to address all the factors that affect wellbeing – from housing and employment to tackling loneliness,” Murphy added.

Initiatives already supported under the scheme include Walking Friends Wales, which helps older people reduce loneliness through group walks and social connection.

Campaigners, however, say that while the vision is welcome, the success of the strategy depends entirely on whether these services are funded and delivered at scale, and whether urgent cases of inappropriate detention are properly addressed.

As Dr. Cavanagh said at the Senedd protest:

“We don’t want more empty promises. We want people to come home.”

Technology trialled at Hywel Dda transforms pregnancy experience

HYWEL DDA University Health Board has introduced pioneering new technology designed to improve the health and wellbeing of pregnant women living with Type 1 diabetes.

Women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy are being offered an ‘artificial pancreas’ – a system combining an insulin pump, glucose sensor, and a mobile app running a sophisticated algorithm. This closed-loop system calculates and delivers precise doses of insulin before and during pregnancy.

Dr Lisa Forrest, Consultant Physician in Diabetes and General Medicine at Hywel Dda, said: “Women with Type 1 diabetes often face significant challenges managing glucose levels during pregnancy. Poor control can lead to serious complications for newborns, including premature birth, high birth weight, and the need for neonatal intensive care.

“However, improving blood glucose control before and during pregnancy greatly reduces the risk of adverse outcomes, such as birth defects, stillbirth and neonatal death.

“This technology can be truly transformative – helping women enjoy pregnancy with greater confidence and less stress.”

The diabetes team at Hywel Dda underwent training in July and November 2024 and is among the first in Wales to routinely offer this innovative technology to women with Type 1 diabetes during pregnancy.

In December 2024, eight women in the health board area who were either pregnant or preparing for pregnancy began using the Ypsopump insulin pump alongside the CAM APS FX hybrid closed-loop algorithm.

Dr Forrest added: “A 2023 study showed that women using this system spent significantly more time within their target glucose range. They also had fewer complications such as high blood pressure, gained less weight, and reported better sleep, lower stress, and more confidence in managing their diabetes.”

Michelle Jones, 36, from Milford Haven, is one of the first to benefit from the artificial pancreas system. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 19, Michelle had long been concerned about the risks pregnancy might pose.

“When I was in my twenties, doctors warned me how tightly my blood sugar would need to be controlled during pregnancy,” she said. “The risks to the baby – things like miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth defects – were frightening.”

Initially using insulin pens, Michelle struggled to keep her glucose in the desired range. “When I told the diabetes team I wanted to try for a baby, they monitored me closely but I just couldn’t get the results with the pens. They offered me the pump as a trial, and my levels improved drastically.”

“The artificial pancreas changed everything. It gives you confidence. If your levels aren’t in range, the system helps you get them back under control. It’s given me tighter, more consistent glucose management.”

Michelle also praised the remote monitoring features, which allow her team to track her levels through the app and reduce the need for travel.

“They can download all my data remotely,” she said. “I can have a phone appointment instead of travelling an hour to Glangwili Hospital. It’s made everything easier, and I hope other women get the same chance I’ve had.”

A national rollout of the technology began in October 2024, with the goal of offering it to all pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes by March 2027. It is also available to women planning a pregnancy.

Mark Henwood, Interim Medical Director at Hywel Dda, said: “I am incredibly proud of our diabetes team. Their work is making a real difference to women’s lives. This technology will help make pregnancy safer, less stressful, and more joyful for women with Type 1 diabetes.”

A WARNING from Hywel Dda Health Board that measles and mumps are resurging in Wales has exposed deep divisions over vaccines, sparking an explosive reaction online.

In a statement released during World Immunization Week, the health board urged parents to ensure their children receive the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, describing it as the “best protection” against life-threatening complications such as meningitis, deafness, and even death.

“If 95% of children receive the MMR vaccine, measles could be wiped out completely,” the health board said. “However, outbreaks occur when vaccination rates drop below 90%.”

The reminder prompted hundreds of responses online, quickly descending into a battle between public health advocates and vaccine sceptics.

One mother, Rachel Beckett, shared a harrowing memory of suffering from mumps as a child: “I remember lying in agony on my mother’s bed while the sound of kids playing outside echoed in. I thought I was dying.”

Other commenters warned that many younger parents do not realise the dangers because vaccines have made serious complications rare in modern Britain. “Vaccines made these horrors a distant memory,” said one user.

However, vaccine sceptics questioned the motivations behind immunisation campaigns. Some suggested doctors receive financial incentives for administering vaccines. Official NHS documents show GP practices are paid a fee per jab administered, around £10, to cover service delivery – but health professionals point out that the payments fund surgery costs, not individual bonuses.

“GPs are not profiting personally from vaccinations,” wrote one commentator. “The payments are for providing services, not backhanders.”

The controversy also reignited the long-running debate over Andrew Wakefield’s discredited claims linking the MMR vaccine to autism. Although his research was found to be fraudulent and his medical licence revoked, misinformation continues to circulate.

Public health advocates were blunt in response. Gareth Pitt-Nash wrote: “Just google ‘Lancet MMR fraud’. It’s not a mystery why measles is coming back when people ignore science.”

Others warned that falling vaccination rates could result in a return to the dark days when measles, rubella, and mumps caused widespread childhood disability and death.

As of 2025, UK childhood vaccination rates for MMR remain below the World Health Organization’s recommended target of 95%, leaving communities vulnerable to outbreaks.

The health board urged families to check their vaccination records urgently, stating that catching up with missed vaccines could save lives.

The facts about the MMR vaccine

🔹 What is the MMR vaccine?
The MMR vaccine protects against three serious diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles).

🔹 How effective is it?
Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide about 99% protection against measles, 88% protection against mumps, and 97% protection against rubella.

🔹 When is it given?
Children are usually given their first dose at 12–13 months old, and a second dose at around 3 years and 4 months, before starting school.

🔹 Is it safe?
The MMR vaccine has been used safely for over 30 years. Millions of doses are given worldwide every year. Serious side effects are extremely rare. Mild side effects such as a sore arm or mild fever are common and temporary.

🔹 Why is high uptake important?
At least 95% of children need to be vaccinated to prevent outbreaks. If vaccination rates fall below 90%, diseases like measles can spread rapidly again.

🔹 What about the autism claim?
A study published in 1998 suggested a link between MMR and autism.
This study was found to be fraudulent, was retracted, and the author was struck off the medical register.
Extensive research since has found no link between the MMR vaccine and autism.

🔹 What are the risks of measles, mumps, and rubella?

Measles can cause meningitis, pneumonia, blindness, and death.

Mumps can cause deafness and swelling of the brain.

Rubella can cause serious birth defects if a pregnant woman catches it.

🔹 Where to find more information:
Visit Public Health Wales – MMR vaccine.

Readers react: Vaccines, health risks, and mistrust

A simple public health warning about rising measles and mumps cases ignited a fierce debate among local residents.

Some shared harrowing personal experiences:

• “My daughter was like a rag doll for a week with measles. It was terrifying.” – Pat Greenhorn
• “I had mumps so badly I couldn’t swallow without pain at three years old. Don’t put children through that.” – Rachel Beckett

Others defended vaccinations:

• “Vaccines made these diseases rare. Now misinformation is undoing that progress.” – Jacqueline White
• “Measles killed children. Rubella caused birth defects. Vaccines are not optional.” – Diana Salmon

However, some questioned the motives behind vaccine campaigns:

• “GP practices get paid per vaccine given. It’s about money, not health.” – Melissa Jade
• “Big pharma profits more from sick people than healthy ones.” – Cantalope Catalina

And others called for calm:

• “GPs don’t pocket bonuses. Payments fund services, not personal profits.” – Katy Hocking

The underlying message from health professionals remains simple: without high vaccination rates, once-defeated diseases will return.