LETTER:Community care is best
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Dr Eric Emerson and Mr Chris Hatton
Sir: The reports by Rosie Waterhouse ("Mencap `snubs families over residential care' " and "Thousands press for safe `village' on hospital site", 27 March) fail to distinguish between fact and propaganda. Since 1980, some 45 scientific studies have been carried out in the UK alone to examine the quality of life of over 2,000 people with severe learning disabilities in hospitals and in the type of small community-based homes advocated by Mencap.
Having been commissioned by the Department of Health to provide an independent review of this evidence, we concluded that:
(1) people with learning disabilities, including those with more severe disabilities and additional needs, can be supported in the community in such a way as to significantly improve their quality of life; and
(2) overall, smaller community-based residential services offer a better quality of life than either mental handicap hospitals, medium-size hostels or specialist developments on hospital sites. (Moving Out, HMSO, 1994)
There is no evidence to suggest that "village communities", or the type of on-site developments proposed for Tilworth Grange, offer a quality of life which is equal to that provided in small community-based homes.
Yours sincerely,
ERIC EMERSON
Deputy Director
CHRIS HATTON
Research Fellow
Hester Adrian Research Centre
University of Manchester
Manchester
27 March
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments