Rightful Lives

A UK based community focussed on the Human Rights of Autistic people and people with Learning Disabilities.

[Rightful Lives @RightfulLives]

TODAY IT IS 15 YEARS SINCE WINTERBOURNE VIEW:
WHY ARE THE NUMBERS STILL RISING?

Today, May 31st, we mark the 15th anniversary of the Winterbourne View scandal. At the time, the world promised "never again." Yet, as someone who survived three years of detention in similar settings, Rightful Lives admin, Alexis Quinn, is here to tell you that for many, "never again" was a hollow promise.

The data from 2026 is staggering:
🚨 A 152% increase in the detention of autistic people since 2015.
🚨 A "Stuck" Population: Those with learning disabilities are still being detained for 10, 15, or 20 years.
🚨 Ongoing Abuse: From Edenfield to St Andrew's and the horrors exposed in the Patient 11 podcast, the culture of locked wards remains broken.

The Legislative Stalling Point: While the new Mental Health Act has received Royal Assent, the Government is hiding behind a "switch on" clause. They refuse to enact these life-saving changes until "sufficient" community support is in place—yet they have provided no roadmap, no funding, and no definition of what "sufficient" actually looks like.

The Risk of Inaction: Without a community roadmap, we aren't "transforming care"; we are just shifting the trauma. We are seeing a rise in "trans-institutionalisation," where autistic people are pushed into forensic pathways, the criminal justice system, or left homeless in unregulated, restrictive settings.
It is too much to ask for a home, not a hospital?

At Rightful Lives, we are demanding an urgent, funded roadmap for community support. No more "learning lessons." We need action.

Watch our video to hear why we cannot wait any longer.

#Winterbourne15 #RightfulLives #MentalHealthReform #AutismAdvocacy #HomesNotHospitals #Patient11 #HumanRights

[Stop Oxevision @StopOxevision]

Our statement on these upcoming hearings

[Ian Birrell @ianbirrell]

When will people understand that social care does not just revolve around elderly people? My @theipaper column on Burnham’s blinkered vision for reform https://t.co/bmbPEXOChr

[Rightful Lives @RightfulLives]

@DanielHewittITV @IsobelS77082097 Took their time…

[Rightful Lives @RightfulLives]

Too many vested interests…..

[Daniel Hewitt @DanielHewittITV]

Care minister: there are too many “rogue providers” in the care sector for people with learning disabilities, after our investigation into Blue Ribbon Healthcare

@Alison_McGovern said we need to change the kind of providers caring for the most vulnerable https://t.co/SGckntIzYB

[Special Needs Jungle @SpcialNdsJungle]

Wow! In the last hour over 900 people have signed the petition to protect the legal rights of disabled children and young people. We have just two weeks to get it over 100,000. Will you help?

https://t.co/3Oe5skAfUr

[Daniel Hewitt @DanielHewittITV]

NEW: We’ve uncovered more allegations of abuse and assault at homes run by Blue Ribbon Healthcare, a private care firm responsible for the care of people with learning disabilities.

BRH is already under investigation by CQC after our investigation in July
https://t.co/WX2mvw1fd4

[Ian Birrell @ianbirrell]

This is alarming: when Burnham was asked on LBC if his proposals included disabled children, he replied: “No. This is adult and particularly older people’s social care.”

So he is not really fixing social care for everyone...

(h/t @DCPcampaign)

[Stop Oxevision @StopOxevision]

We warmly welcome the publication of the MHC of Ireland's recent Code on surveillance in mental health settings. As far as we understand, this precludes any use of Oxevision within bedrooms. We urge NHSE to follow suit.

https://t.co/QtSkH6s1EO

[Paula McGowan OBE @PaulaMc007]

#Oliverscampaign

It is deeply hurtful & disturbing to me that at least 23 staff who had absolutely nothing to do with Oliver’s care accessed his highly personal medical records after his death

@YvetteCooperMP
@andyburnham
@NHSEngland

This has to stop

https://t.co/fRBW5elCvx

[Rightful Lives @RightfulLives]

Well yes….it’s about time a government woke up to this whole health and social care profiteering racket. They’ve all been told enough times. The ‘Trade in People’ report is from 2017.

https://t.co/Bq7eSA8IhP

[Daniel Hewitt @DanielHewittITV]

Exc: Louise Casey, head of the commission on adult social care in England:

-“Mistake” to allow so much privatisation of care sector
-“Profiteering” firms make money off backs of disabled ppl
-Would ban foriegn entities owning UK care homes

My interview: https://t.co/mm83UO9CTL

[Daniel Hewitt @DanielHewittITV]

A short preview of our interview with Baroness Casey.

[Rightful Lives @RightfulLives]

“I think people with learning disabilities are often completely overlooked, completely forgotten, because essentially there aren't millions of them,” she said. (Baroness Casey)

[ITV News @itvnews]

NHS 'unable to treat and look after' people with learning disabilities, says care commission chair

The NHS is failing people with learning disabilities and hospitals are “unable to sufficiently treat and look after” them, says Baroness Louise Casey, the head of the government’s commission into adult social care, as ITV News Investigations Editor @DanielHewittITV reports
https://t.co/bgOdnO99JD

[Rightful Lives @RightfulLives]

Reprisals and revenge are everywhere in mental health. Don’t you ever try asking questions.

[Jane Haines @CJaneHaines]

'Shockingly, it emerged that the mental health nurse could have "callously disregarded" Ms Barber because she bore a "grudge" after the young patient reported her to management for falling asleep on shift.'
https://t.co/kgu9Udzzhd

[Rightful Lives @RightfulLives]

In Wales… “in the most recent year, around £345m was made in profit by the 379 private providers for which we have data…Of this total profit, £188m (54 per cent of the total) went to providers owned by ultimate parent companies based in tax havens and/or private equity firms.”

Similar elsewhere in the UK no doubt.

If money is short in social care, we need to stop giving it away to private investors @YvetteCooperMP @Alison_McGovern.

#CaseyCommission #BigConversationOnCare #AdultSocialCare

https://t.co/3WMKKpB9qh

[Rightful Lives @RightfulLives]

@ClaireCNWL @CJaneHaines maybe Claire can help here?

[Rightful Lives @RightfulLives]

@CJaneHaines @RITB_ @ClaireCNWL do you know the answer to this please?

[Jane Haines @CJaneHaines]

Does anyone know if Martha's Rule would be applicable for a 15 year old girl, diagnosed with Autism and ADHD, currently deteriorating in a psychiatric unit.
@RITB_ @RightfulLives

[Rightful Lives @RightfulLives]

Hi @YvetteCooperMP @andyburnham.

@DHSCgovuk has commissioned The Public Service Consultants and Imroc to consult and report on what constitutes good community care for autistic people and people with learning disabilities. This is so that the relevant part of s3 of the new Mental Health Act can eventually be switched on.

Did you know that this work has already been done…several times in fact? The reports and reviews are all there. This is just another delay that will contribute to the government’s own estimated ten year time frame for the changes to be in place.

These are changes that were promised years ago.

Stop with the constant starting all over again with this work.
Spend the money on improving people’s lives instead.
Please.

[Rightful Lives @RightfulLives]

@SGV_UK Happy Birthday, Shaun 🎂