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People with mental health conditions and disabilities continue to face hardships, report shows (7 April 2017)

Date: 07/04/2017
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, People with mental health conditions and disabilities continue to face hardships, report shows

A report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), titled Being Disabled in Britain: A Journey Less Equal, has revealed the hardships faced by disabled people living in Britain.

Many disabled people are living in poverty with poor life chances, as a result of benefit cuts and fewer opportunities throughout many stages of their lives.

Disabled people face financial difficulties, with the disability pay gap in Britain widening, and young disabled people (aged 16-24) and disabled woman having the lowest median hourly earnings of the population. The report produced figures revealing that food poverty affected 18.4% of disabled people aged 16-64 (compared to 7.5% of non-disabled people).

The report writes that “Negative attitudes towards disabled people remain prominent in Britain and people with a mental health conditions, learning disability or memory impairment remain particularly likely to be stigmatised.” Furthermore, obtaining adequate healthcare poses a challenge for many disabled patients, with do-not-resuscitate notices being placed on patient files without their knowledge or consent. The report showed that detentions in health and social care settings under the Mental Health Act 1983 are continuing to increase in England and Wales. The number of detentions in hospitals has risen from 46,600 to 63,622 between 2009/10 and 2016.

David Isaac, chair of the EHRC commented “While at face value we have travelled far, in reality disabled people are being left behind in society, their life chances remain very poor, and public attitudes have changed very little.”

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is the largest provider of Mental Health Legal Aid services in the UK. Duncan Lewis’ Court of Protection department specialises in cases that overlap the Mental Health Act & Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty safeguards; representing vulnerable clients and family members in disputes pertaining to mental capacity and best interest welfare decisions relating to residence, contact, care and medical treatment; advising and assisting clients and their carers to receive appropriate services from social services to live independently at home as part of the settlement in cases concerning residence; assisting clients, family members and carers in making applications for Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) or appointed to Deputy in Finance and Property; representing clients in disputes pertaining to the registration of LPAs and appointment of Deputies.

Duncan Lewis' Court of Protection Department is recognised by Legal 500 2016 Edition as a leading practice in cases that overlap mental health and capacity, and deprivation of liberty safeguards.

Our prominent specialism in Community Care law and Mental Health law issues gives us the advantage in resolving Court of Protection proceedings to our clients’ favour. We specialise in representing family members and carers with loved ones that lack capacity to make decisions in respect of their welfare and finances.

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