Doncaster mum demands investigation into care of son detained in mental health hospital for 13 years

Ryan Addison, who has diagnoses of autism, psychosis and mild learning disabilities, was detained in a mental health hospital, also known as an assessment and treatment unit or ATU, in 2006.

For the last three-and-a-half years, the 31-year-old has been in long-term segregation and is regularly in seclusion in a unit at the Humber Centre in Hull.

The time he spends in seclusion can vary but has been up to four-and-a-half months. He presently stays in a bare room and does not interact with others.

Now mum Sharon Clarke has asked Irwin Mitchell’s public law and human rights team to look into the care her son has received.

She says her worries over her son’s condition have been heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic as she had been unable to see him until June.

Ryan has also been ‘self-harming more and injuring his face’.

Sharon, 61, said: “It took five weeks for me to be able to Skype Ryan and even on Skype calls you can see how Ryan’s condition is getting worse.

"At least before lockdown he would see me but now he has nothing. He doesn’t get to see anyone at all now.

“For years we have been asking for more to be done to help Ryan but we feel that every time we ask not enough gets done.

“We feel that we have been left with no choice other than to take this course."

Sharon, who is litigation friend for Ryan, has told his legal team that she worries her son’s basic needs are not being met at present.

She said after her son had 14 teeth removed he was given false teeth. However, he lost these 18 months ago and ‘they have yet to be replaced’.

“It’s heartbreaking to see Ryan the way he is. At the minute he just exists,” Sharon added.

"He doesn’t have any quality of life and we only worry that things will get worse if nothing is done.

“All we want is for his needs to be fully assessed and the most suitable care package given to him so he can make the most of life.”

At the end of June 2,085 people with autism and/or a learning disability were in ATUs, according to NHS Digital figures.

In May 2019 Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced an independent review of patients in segregation and the care they received.

It followed an interim review into the use of restraint, segregation and prolonged seclusion in the health and care sector, published by the Care Quality Commission which described the system as “not fit for purpose”.

Kirsty Stuart, expert public law and human rights lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Ryan, said: “Despite previous government pledges to reduce the number of people with a learning disability being detained in ATUs, the issue of them being so is once again in the spotlight.

“More than 2,000 adults and children with learning disabilities and or autistic people are detained in secure mental health units. We believe many are denied the right to a home and a family life that keeps them well.

“The first-hand account we have heard from Sharon about what has happened to her son is very worrying and we are now investigating these concerns. Understandably all Sharon wants is what’s best for her son; therefore, we have applied to the court for a full assessment of Ryan’s needs to be carried out and to put in place a suitable community care package.

“We call on the local authority, Health Trust and CCG to work with the family so Ryan can live as independently as possible and thrive in the community.

“Ideally Sharon would love for Ryan to be provided with a community care package that reflects his needs so he can be closer to his family. The family feel that this would give him the best quality of life.”

The Doncaster Free Press has contacted The Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust for comment and is awaiting their response.

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