Progress with Learning Disability Hospital Closures in Scotland

Abstract

Since the late 1950s the focus of UK policy for people with learning disabilities has been on deinstitutionalisation and care in the community. In the last decade policy focus has shifted towards individualised support and community membership. Deinstitutionalisation in Scotland started later than in England, and still has some way to go. This article considers four aspects of the current hospital closure programme in Scotland: involving people with a learning disability and families, managing hospital closure, service reprovisioning, and strategic planning.