Health staff encouraged to sign up to disability pledge

NHS England is encouraging more health care professionals to sign up to a pledge to stop the overmedication of people with a learning disability, autism or both.

The Stopping OverMedication of People with a Learning Disability (STOMP) campaign will target NHS trusts to seek alternatives to prescribing psychotropic drug prescriptions, which should only be used for the right reason, in the right amount, for as short a time as possible.

The STOMP pledge was launched in June 2016 after figures showed that an estimated 35,000 adults with a learning disability, autism or both are being prescribed an antipsychotic, an antidepressant or both without appropriate clinical justification.

John Trevains, NHS England’s Head of Mental Health and Learning Disability Nursing said: “It is really important that people only receive psychotropic medication when all other approaches have been considered. Everyone, including the person with a learning disability, autism or both, and their families, needs to be involved in the decision -making and clear about why such medication is needed. They need to be aware of the serious side effects and understand how often and when the medication will be reviewed.

“In both the NHS and independent sector, healthcare providers have a very important role to play in working together with health and social care partners in stopping overmedication of these powerful drugs to ensure a better quality of life for people with a learning disability, autism or both.”

The STOMP pledge is supported by the Royal Colleges of Nursing, Psychiatrists and GPs, as well as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the British Psychological Society and the Challenging Behaviour Foundation (CBF).