25 signatures reached
To: Derbyshire County Care Commissioning Groups and NHS, Derby City and Derbyshire County Councils, Derby City and Derbyshire MPs and Councillors
Improving provision for Autistic individuals in Derbyshire
The provision for care for individuals on the Autistic Spectrum in Derby City and Derbyshire is terrible. During a recent Back-Bencher debate in the Houses of Commons two of the three MPs for Derby City, Amanda Solloway and Pauline Latham, highlighted the plight of individuals in their constituencies who have received little or no care for their condition.
The Autism Act 2009 specifies legislation for individuals on the Autistic Spectrum and NICE has produced guidelines on the provision of post diagnosis pathways and best practice. None of this is undertaken in Derbyshire, which by contrast to other counties in the East Midlands, has no dedicated post diagnostic pathway for adults on the spectrum, and long waiting lists exceeding 2 years for adults who require diagnosis and 1 year for children.
Why is this important?
My name is Jenn Layton. I had an autistic meltdown on the 11th June and ended up in A&E twice in 24 hours with overdoses. I had been referred to the Home Treatment and Crisis Team the day before. When I called them before I took my first overdose to tell them I was on my own and felt risky I was told to go for a walk. I assaulted a member of the hospital staff trying to help on my first admission because I could not cope with the sensory input and left the house in handcuffs when I refused to cooperate with paramedics. I self discharged and went home and overdosed again on alcohol and drugs because I was in a state of physiological shock and unable to behave rationally. I really wanted to die and stop feeling the pain I was in. I am feeling better now but am terrified if this happens again at a weekend and I am still not understood the same thing will happen again, or worse.
NHS Derby City and Derbyshire estimate there are approximately 11,000 people in the County somewhere on the Autistic Spectrum. Lack of provision mean we are often unable to achieve anywhere near or full potential. We are stuck between NHS teams, with no dedicated pathway, and often encounter poorly prepared and dangerous situations that can worsen already difficult circumstances. Mental health staff, hospital staff, police and social care are working with no dedicated training or joining up of services. Families, parents and partners are being left alone to pick up the pieces because of the lack of provision, making life miserable and harder for everyone.
The number of people on the spectrum is increasing all the time as diagnosis improves. Please add your name and story and make life easier for everyone, Aspies, Autists, their families and the services and save some money for the county in the long term by avoiding countless crisis situations that are occurring every day, in homes and public places in Derbyshire.
