Welsh Government commits to three-year learning disability service transformation programme

The Welsh Government says it is committed to improving and transforming specialist inpatient services for people with a learning disability and autistic people following the publication of a landmark report from the Stolen Lives Task and Finish Group.

In a written statement following the report, Sarah Murphy, MS and Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, said that many of the report’s recommendations align closely with work already underway or in development. Others have significantly strengthened their understanding of the systemic challenges and barriers that must be addressed.

She said that many recommendations call for major service reform and will require detailed preparatory work, resources, and investment, but, as a priority, the government will support a three‑year integrated learning disability service transformation programme across health, social care, and housing from April 2026 to March 2029.

From Hospitals to Homes report

The Stolen Lives report was published by the Stolen Lives Task and Finish Group, which is a subgroup of the Learning Disability Ministerial Advisory Group (LDMAG), which advises on improving the lives of people with learning disabilities in Wales.

It calls on the Welsh Government to stop the inhumane detention of people with learning disabilities and autistic people in secure hospitals and appoint a commissioner for learning disabilities to help end the ‘human rights scandal’.

The Stolen Lives group was formed by families of people with learning disabilities and autistic people admitted to hospital inappropriately to campaign for better care and support in the community, and to end unnecessary restrictive practices.

The Stolen Lives’ manifesto for change launched in April 2024 alongside a protest outside the Senedd under the banner of ‘Homes Not Hospitals.’ This led to a meeting with the Minister for Mental Health and Early Years, Jane Bryant, resulting in the establishment of the Task and Finish Group.

Recommendations from the report

Recommendations from the report include improving services to prevent inappropriate admissions in the first place and to get people out of the hospital once admitted; reviewing current practice to reduce and prevent harmful approaches; ensuring transparency and real accountability in the system; and improving complaint processes.

The group also wants theWelsh Government to strengthen existing legislation or create new primary legislation to enhance the rights of people with a learning disability and autistic people against detention in secure hospitals or units (including children). This legislation must include meaningful sanctions against bodies that fail to protect the rights of people with a learning disability and autistic people.

They also say that there must be meaningful duties on public bodies to facilitate the voices of people with a learning disability and autistic people and their families in decision-making, and a duty of candour on public services concerning these processes.

As part of this, the Reducing Restrictive Practices Framework should be made statutory, and families should be able to request an independent legal review without cost if proper procedures are not followed.

Review the work of social workers and other professionals

The report also highlighted how many Stolen Lives families report long histories of attempts to gain social work support as problems develop, or experience ineffective social work interventions when their family member is at a point of crisis.

This has resulted in inappropriate sections and unreliable responses when complaints are raised. Parents say they have experienced verbal and written judgments about their fitness to parent that lack substantiation and include acts of perjury by professionals.

The group added that the role of social work, social work management teams, and social care in the lives of people with learning disabilities who are wrongly detained, or ‘placed’, should be scrutinised at a national level and as a matter of urgency.

Dr Dawn Cavanagh, Founder of Stolen Lives, said: “To the families across Wales who are living through the nightmare scenario of their loved ones incarcerated in a seemingly pitiless and invulnerable system, I hope this report provides some confidence that things will change.

“It is incumbent upon Welsh Government to lead this change and I look forward to working with them on ensuring that the recommendations in this report are delivered at pace.”

There are an estimated 60,000 adults with a learning disability in Wales.

Alison Bloomer

Alison Bloomer is Editor of Learning Disability Today.

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