Petition · Department of Health and Social Care

Specialist Hospital Units for Vulnerable Young Adults with learning disabilities

Closed 50 signatures

What the petition asks

Fund specialist hospital units for young adults with learning disabilities and additional needs, including autism, which offer them paediatric care to age 18 where clinically appropriate. The units should be sensory-considerate, ease the eventual transition to adult care and minimise distress.
We would also like parents or carers to be able to remain in the units 24/7, and for consistent, inclusive, compassionate care to be ensured across all NHS hospitals.

We think care decisions should be based on developmental rather than chronological age, with an emphasis on individual needs.

We believe these young people deserve care that respects their unique challenges. We think they need understanding, not assumptions. We think they need protection, not policies that in our view fail them.

Timeline

28 May 2025 Petition opened for signatures
28 Nov 2025 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 50
Status Closed
Department Department of Health and Social Care
Opened 28 May 2025
Closed 28 Nov 2025

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

Source: the official petition page. Last checked 19 Aug 2026.