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Wes Streeting's move against autism - NAS - time to step up

mrs.snooks

I'm aware that this discussion may get a little heated, but I hope that it stays away from getting too much so. I do not mean to cause offense or lead to any arguments. So here goes.

I woke up to this morning's headlines: 

Health Secretary Wes Streeting is to launch an independent review into rising demand for mental health, ADHD, and autism services in England.

I haven't added the link to the article as I know this will trigger a delay to having this posted. But I'm thinking you will have seen this this morning. 

I am so angry on so many levels. And I am hoping that the NAS is angry too and can respond to his move with a firm and robust response. Because.

Now, I am going to call it out. Mr Streeting, I think that this is what I would be calling: Discrimination. Discrimination with a big, fat capital D. Discrimination against a marginalised group. A vulnerable group. That deserves your protection and that you should have our back. As the HEALTH secretary. Shame on you. Shame on you.

I may not respond to any responses to my thread, if it gets too heated. And I am happy for the thread to get locked or removed.

It's time to Step Up.

Parents

  • Lets have some numbers.

    The benefits bill is not sustainable, so either it has to be cut for everyone or it has to get more selective.

    1 in 10 working age people get disability or incapacity benefits, having risen by around a third in 6 years, and over 60% in the last 22 years.

    44% are for mental health or behavioural issues.

    75.1% of the working age population work (people aged 16-64), which is 34.22 million, or 49%.

    So each working person is feeding, housing, 2 people.

    Also 53.3% of the population costs more than they put in. 

    60% of all personal tax comes from 10% of the population, some of whom are leaving.

    One of the papers the other day pointed out that for a couple with 3 children living on benefits, they would have to earn £71,000 between the to be worth working. This is unreasonable.

    Motability is the biggest provider of cars now I believe, including providing luxury cars with tax payer subsidies, although this is now being stopped.

    I would stake all my savings on there being corruption too.

    This does not not mean I am against help for those that need it.

    For those on work, if you are out for more than 3 months I think for a mental health issues, the chances of working again drop. I sone European countries intervention is much quicker and people stay in work.

    Children are not served by waiting years for a diagnosis.

    An investigation, based on data, is a good thing to find out what is going on. If more resources are needed to enable more people to be productive, that is a good thing and is brings the cost down and allows those who need help to be supported without cuts.

    The most common reason for a sickness claim has become ASD and ADHD apparently.

    I do not believe, neither did my consultant, that some of the online diagnosis places that charge little and do it in one phone call can be doing a thorough or reliable job. You would have to be naive to think no-one is gaming the system. This helps nobody. I have sone other suspicions, but I can't substantiate them so will not say anything.

    So in summary, to block any investigation is to block improvement in access and will result in a reduction in money per person.

    If everything is above board, then it will have to lead to more accommodation and help to get people into work. Which many would consider a good thing too.

  • in reply to Stuart333

    ‘The assertion that ASD and ADHD are the commonest reason for a sickness claim is simply wrong. I’ve just drilled down into the figures for PIP and it would appear that:

    • The commonest main reason given for a PIP claim is 'psychiatric disorders' (around 40%)
    • Autism and ADHD combined account for about 10% of the total
    • Anxiety and depression account for 15–20%
    • Other mental conditions: 10–15%
Reply
  • in reply to Stuart333

    ‘The assertion that ASD and ADHD are the commonest reason for a sickness claim is simply wrong. I’ve just drilled down into the figures for PIP and it would appear that:

    • The commonest main reason given for a PIP claim is 'psychiatric disorders' (around 40%)
    • Autism and ADHD combined account for about 10% of the total
    • Anxiety and depression account for 15–20%
    • Other mental conditions: 10–15%
Children
  • in reply to Wordsmith

    Good info.

    I checked all the other figures but assumed the claim for the largest single cause was correct. 

    However, I misread what the article said:

    "The health secretary is concerned about the sharp rise in diagnoses of mental illness, autism and attention deficit disorder (ADHD) which have become the most common cause for a sickness benefit claim."