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Mothers tell MPs of extreme toll coronavirus is having on autistic children in detained in mental-health hospitals

TWO mothers told MPs today of the extreme toll the coronavirus is having on their severely autistic children, currently being detained in mental-health hospitals. 

Giving evidence to Parliament’s joint committee on human rights, Adele Green and Andria Attree said they felt their children had been subjected to inhumane treatment in recent weeks.

Ms Green’s son Eddie, 20, was detained under the Mental Health Act two years ago. He was about to be discharged in March but was unable to leave when the hospital went into lockdown. 

Since then he has not been allowed family visits, his daily therapy sessions have been stopped and he has spent the last seven-and-a-half weeks in his room, Ms Green told MPs. 

“Within a week … he tried to take his own life, which is something that really blew us away,” she said. 

Ms Green added that he has been restrained more regularly and is self-harming. 

Ms Attree said her daughter Danielle, 23, has also been experiencing extreme anxiety and stress during lockdown.

“She has continuously tried to take her own life. She’s exhibiting behaviours I’ve never seen before in the whole of the 10 years she’s been in and out of hospital.”

Both Ms Attree and Ms Green expressed concerns over the use of inappropriate restraints, seclusion and a lack of support for the complex needs of their children. 

A report by the joint committee last year found that young people were being subjected to “inhumane and degrading treatment” in hospital settings. 

Committee chairwoman Harriet Harman said: “The situation is likely to have been made even worse now that parental visits and inspections have been suspended as part of tackling Covid-19.”

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