Mother of autistic teenager sent to Carstairs to meet with State Hospital managers

The mother of an autistic teenager sent to the State Hospital because there were no beds in an appropriate psychiatric unit is to meet with managers there to discuss her son’s case.

Last week we told how Gordon, now 22, was subsequently placed on a restriction order at high security Carstairs hospital, meaning he can be held there indefinitely.

His mum Ruth, who has asked us not to use the family’s surname, will highlight a deterioration in his health in the three years since at the meeting with chief executive Gary Jenkins and medical director professor Lesley Thomson next month.

Ruth said: “We want to discuss serious issues including my son’s deterioration and the restriction order which we felt was secured behind our backs.

“The meeting follows one in February at which the senior staff heard our concerns then admitted to me that they had not even met Gordon. I want to see how we can move on from here.”

The case has won the backing of autism campaigners and a dad who successfully fought his local council and NHS England over the high-security detention of his daughter.

Jeremy – whose surname cannot be given for legal reasons – took legal action against Walsall Council and NHS England for keeping daughter Bethany, 18, locked up at St Andrew’s Hospital in Northampton.

He said: “The whole inpatient environment is not suitable for people with autism and actually triggers behaviour people want to avoid. Inpatient care for people with autism is sensory torture, a bright, over-stimulating environment full of distressed people. The system does not support people with autism.”

The State Hospital said: “We are unable to comment on individual patients but can confirm there are no patients detained with autism as the only diagnosis.

“We have a commitment to working collaboratively with all families and carers to help ensure the best outcomes for our patients.”