Mum’s anguish as autistic son held in Carstairs for FIVE YEARS
THE mother of a young autistic man has spoken of her ‘utter despair’ as he reaches five years spent locked up in the maximum security state hospital against his family’s wishes – at a cost of more than £1.5million.
Gordon Hughes, 24, was sent to the hospital at Carstairs, Lanarkshire, in 2017 as there were no places available in a lesser secure unit.
Psychiatrists there then diagnosed him with schizophrenia – which his family strongly disagree with – and he could now be held there for the rest of his life.
Mr Hughes’ family say his health has gravely deteriorated, including hair and weight loss, since being held in maximum security and being placed on strong anti-psychotic drugs.
They have now pleaded that he be moved to another hospital or back into the community.
Campaigners have previously voiced outrage at the continuing detention of patients with autism and intellectual disabilities in maximum security, claiming the stark conditions make them worse.
It costs in excess of £350,000 a year to hold each patient at the state hospital, which is run by its own health board and has more administration staff and management than it has patients.
Mr Hughes’ mother, Ruth, has also been stopped from visiting him for almost two years after she spoke out about her son’s case.
She says his condition deteriorated after he was assaulted by a fellow patient in 2018 while two members of staff, who were later sacked, did nothing to intervene.
Ms Hughes said: ‘Gordon was admitted in good physical shape and is now a wreck. I fear he will die a sad and lonely death in there.
‘There is so much for Gordon on the outside yet he is being drugged to the point where he can hardly speak, spending most of his time in his room. He could have a great life at home for a fraction of the cost of keeping him in the state hospital.’
Mr Hughes was diagnosed as a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism and a learning disability. He was being treated at a psychiatric hospital in Glasgow after self-harming when doctors recommended he would benefit from a move to a medium secure unit, such as Glasgow’s Rowanbank clinic.
However, documents show he was moved into Carstairs under ‘exceptional circumstances’, as there were ‘no medium secure beds available’.
Ms Hughes said: ‘There had been an episode in 2017 where Gordon self-harmed. We sought help and he went to a local hospital.
‘To our shock, he was sent to Carstairs. We thought it would be temporary. Instead, Gordon has gone in and might never come out.
He was attacked by another patient in 2018 and, shortly afterwards, a psychiatrist diagnosed Gordon as schizophrenic. Doctors told us previously that Gordon does not have schizophrenia.
‘They proceeded with their diagnosis anyway. We are now at a point of utter despair.’
Dorry McLaughlin, chief executive of Scottish Autism, said it could not comment on Mr Hughes’ specific case, but added: ‘It is completely unacceptable that there are still cases where autistic people are in settings which were not intended for people with neurodevelopmental conditions. We need to ensure every possible alternative option is explored.’
A spokesman for the state hospital said: ‘Autism or learning disability is not a criteria for admission and no one in the state hospital only has a diagnosis of autism.
‘To be admitted to the state hospital, the level of risk posed is the most serious. Individual patient treatment is reviewed regularly and all efforts are focused on helping people get the skills to move on to a less secure environment.’
‘He has gone in and might never come out’