Health and care bosses in the North East have said a "radically different" plan is needed to "support people with the most complex needs" such as severe learning disabilities and autism.
In light of media coverage focussing on how people around the UK can be trapped in secure hospital accommodation for long periods after being admitted to hospital, the North East and North Cumbria NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) has highlighted that patient spend too long in hospital, while neurodiverse children are at risk of being given unregulated placements or sent to hospitals, among other issues.
According to the report, across the North East and North Cumbria, of 151 adults and 9 children in learning disability hospitals with the most complex needs, 39 "have been identified as no longer needing to be in hospital". The report explains how this is due to a range of factors - including difficulty attracting highly skilled care staff.
