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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

    If the government put more money into diagnostic services within the NHS and invested in fit for purpose and professionally qualified oversight of people on incapacity benefits there would be a net financial benefit to the state. Having half-arsed witch-hunts conducted by people not sufficiently qualified to assess neurodevelopmental and mental health problems is just asking for increased misery and higher rates of suicide. I'm speaking as an autistic person who is highly qualified and who worked full-time in a demanding job until retirement and who never has had any state benefits, except when unemployed after graduating during the Thatcherite cut-backs of the early 1980s.

  • in reply to Martin

    I agree on the allocation of resources, but not necessarily new money. 

    NHS budget has trebled since 2000 in real terms (after inflation) from £34bn to a little over £200bn.

    Staffing has increased by 50%.

    In that time the number of beds has been cut from 186,000 to 145,000.

    Even the Guardian is now negative,  reporting today on systemic bullying at one place which has seen a number of staff jailed.

    I believe they mentioned money is not it's main problem.

  • in reply to ArchaeC

    It was recognised more than 7-10 years ago as needing reform.

    The Tories said they would do something, increased NI to provide more money then the NHS grabbed it all. So it never went to social care. Then the cut NI before the election.

    The cab just gets kicked down the road so people bed block because there is nowhere to put them.

    In 1970 there were 423,000 beds. By 1980 356,000, by 1990 270,000, by 2000 240,000, by 2010 144,000, by 2025 147,000 following a blip in COVID times.

    So 1/3 the beds and the population has grown 27% on that time. 

  • in reply to Stuart333

    According to a hospital manager on ITV News at Ten last night, lack of appropriate social care is causing the most problems for hospitals. Patients waiting on trolleys in EDs, lack of bed availability on wards, theatres not operating on full capacity etc.  

    Why is social care not adequate? Lack of money?

Reply
  • in reply to Stuart333

    According to a hospital manager on ITV News at Ten last night, lack of appropriate social care is causing the most problems for hospitals. Patients waiting on trolleys in EDs, lack of bed availability on wards, theatres not operating on full capacity etc.  

    Why is social care not adequate? Lack of money?

Children
  • in reply to ArchaeC

    It was recognised more than 7-10 years ago as needing reform.

    The Tories said they would do something, increased NI to provide more money then the NHS grabbed it all. So it never went to social care. Then the cut NI before the election.

    The cab just gets kicked down the road so people bed block because there is nowhere to put them.

    In 1970 there were 423,000 beds. By 1980 356,000, by 1990 270,000, by 2000 240,000, by 2010 144,000, by 2025 147,000 following a blip in COVID times.

    So 1/3 the beds and the population has grown 27% on that time.