Disabled people unprotected when forced into institutional care, says peer

Disabled people face a “scandalous” lack of legal protection against moves to force them into institutional care, Lord Ashley of Stoke, the Labour peer behind a bill to support independent living, has claimed.

Lord Ashley, who has tabled the Disabled Persons (Independent Living) Bill told the Lords last week that disabled people’s rights to services mainly meant help with being washed and fed rather than independence.

His bill, which had its second reading last Friday, contains a package of measures designed to help disabled people live more independently.

These include an entitlement to the same care package if they move into another council’s jurisdiction. They currently have to renegotiate their package each time they change local authority.

Ashley said services were blighted by a “notorious postcode lottery”.

Menghi Mulchandani, chair of the National Centre for Independent Living, said the bill, if enacted, would give disabled people choice and control over services.