'Many with learning disabilities are still being placed long distances from where their families live'

MS for North Wales

Speaking in the Welsh Parliament, I highlighted continuing problems affecting people in Wales a decade after the Winterbourne View Scandal, when abuse of people with learning disabilities and/or Autism was exposed, and backed calls by the Learning Disability Consortium, including Learning Disability Wales and Mencap Cymru, for the Welsh Government to take specific action now. Many people in Wales with learning disabilities and/or Autism are still being placed long distances from where their families live and earlier this month we heard shocking allegations that Autistic children were abused at a Residential home in Wales.

Responding to the Health Minister’s Statement in the Senedd on ‘Services supporting people to recover from COVID-19’, I emphasised the need for staff delivering primary and community services to listen and learn from those with experience of Long COVID, quoting a constituent who told me, “The trouble is there are not many staff with experience, and they won't listen to those of us who have the experience and are willing to talk.'

I called on the Minister to ensure that the staff providing these patients with care listen to them and co-design the solutions together.

I had a meeting with Diverse Cymru, a Welsh charity committed to supporting people faced with inequality and discrimination because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

One of the key asks in their Manifesto for a Fair and Equal Wales is co-production, an approach I have long-championed and repeatedly called on the Welsh Government to adopt.

As they state: "We need to recognise and act on the voices and experiences of people in Wales, including intersectional issues. Failure to make this fundamental shift in the way we address equality and diversity will leave many people in Wales at risk of discrimination, poverty and injustice."

Other online meetings included ClwydAlyn Housing for an update on the challenges and opportunities they face across North Wales to meet housing need and to address poverty, the Senedd’s Interim Subordinate Legislation Committee, which considered a number of Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations Instruments, and Banc Cambria, bringing me up to speed on their work to develop a Community Bank in Wales, with a focus on towns and communities that have lost all banking facilities.

I also made a socially distanced visit to Llysfasi College in Ruthin for a constructive meeting with both the Head of Llysfasi College and NFU Cymru Clwyd.

If you need my help, email Mark.Isherwood@senedd.wales or call 0300 200 7219.