• Public Accounts Committee publishes report on supporting patients with learning disabilities
• Report notes that progress has been made to move patient care from mental health hospitals to community providers
• We welcome progress but funding must follow patients into the community to offer right support

The Public Accounts Committee has published its report on support for people with learning disabilities.

The report notes that NHS England and Department of Health have made progress in its efforts to move patients with learning disabilities out of mental health hospitals and into community care.

However the PAC highlighted a number of areas where more can be done, these included:

• That money is not moving with the patient to pay for support in the community;
• too many people are not having care and treatment reviews;
• and the uncertainty caused by the proposed changes to local housing allowance

NHS Providers submitted evidence to the inquiry.

Responding to the report, the director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

“We welcome the progress that’s being made in transforming care for people with learning disabilities. Clearly though, there’s more to do.

“It is important that people with learning disabilities receive skilled and timely care and treatment reviews which ensure that they are benefiting from the care that best meets their needs.

Money should follow patients when they leave mental health hospital, to provide the right support in the community.

“Money should follow patients when they leave mental health hospital, to provide the right support in the community. But it is important to remember that for some people with learning disabilities and their families, the care and support provided in hospital is comprehensive and essential. We must not lose sight of this.”