The autism patients 'wrongly locked up'

THE SCANDAL of thousands of patients with learning disabilities and autism "wrongly" locked in solitary confinement will be ended, disability minister Sir Stephen Timms has pledged.

- Lucy Johnston

Due to a lack of supported community places there are 2,205 people, including 265 children, living in Autistic Treatment Units against the wishes of their families, latest figures show.

Patients are held for an average of five years, though some are held for decades.

This is despite numerous government pledges to end the practice, including a 2012 NHS report which stated people would be moved to community-based care "no later than June 2014".