00:00 They treated him like an animal in there, really.
00:04 He wasn't cleaned, he was left in his own mess.
00:06 The Independent has been following the story of Nicholas Thornton.
00:17 He's 28 years old, but for the past ten years,
00:20 he's been in and out of institutions that can't meet his needs.
00:23 One of more than 2,000 people with learning disabilities and autism
00:26 who find themselves stuck in hospital for days.
00:29 With the help of his brother,
00:31 he explained how this decade-long ordeal has impacted his life.
00:35 Ten years of it,
00:37 and mostly...
00:40 ..away from all...
00:43 ..family and friends.
00:48 I've not seen a friend for seven years.
00:52 Nicholas, who is autistic and has learning disabilities,
00:55 told us what happens to him when he's playing.
00:58 What happens to him when he's placed in such unsuitable care facilities?
01:02 Sensory overload and...
01:05 can have...
01:08 ..autism meltdowns.
01:13 The alarms...
01:16 ..and the number of people.
01:20 Fluorescent lights.
01:23 It's like torture that I can't...
01:27 ..get...
01:29 ..away from.
01:31 We met with Nicholas's sister, Alex,
01:35 who has been battling to get him the care he deserves.
01:38 He was a jolly, happy, bouncy child,
01:42 full of life and very, very adventurous.
01:45 He loved the dog shows, sailing,
01:48 and just a lively, active boy.
01:50 He liked his bike as well.
01:53 He's not like that anymore, it's a shame.
01:55 Can you tell me a bit about some of the worst places he's been in
01:59 and what it's like for you to have seen him in those places?
02:03 Boston Hospital was awful.
02:07 They treated him like an animal in there, really.
02:12 He wasn't cleaned, he was left in his own mess.
02:15 And he was full of bed sores.
02:18 And he went non-verbal after that.
02:22 United Lincolnshire Hospital's NHS Trust, which runs Boston Hospital,
02:27 said that Nicholas's concerns were referred to the local safeguarding team.
02:31 Their understanding is that his complaint was not upheld.
02:35 Then they stuck him in a dementia ward, which was quite frightening.
02:40 It was in Birmingham. There was lots of noise.
02:43 Another place, in West Bromwich.
02:45 He was left alone, he had no way of calling for help.
02:49 He used to have to throw himself off the bed.
02:51 And when he left there, they put in a soiled pad in with his food.
02:58 They said that they'd take him back to Essex.
03:03 And he was put in a secure mental hospital in Rochford.
03:08 And it's been hell ever since.
03:12 And that hospital has had very, very bad reviews.
03:16 They've been investigated and nothing's changed.
03:19 He's autistic and he's not mental, you know.
03:23 And he just needs to be in an environment that understands autism.
03:28 When you think about that and where Nick is now, what he's lost,
03:33 how does that make you feel?
03:35 Awful, because nobody listens.
03:38 Or they try and appease you, but rarely anything gets done.
03:43 His whole life has been stolen from him, really.
03:47 I just want him to be happy.
03:49 Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
03:54 said it cannot comment on individuals,
03:56 but insisted patients were treated with care and compassion.
03:59 Now Nicholas's mental health section has been lifted,
04:02 there is no reason for him to be in a hospital unit.
04:05 Except one.
04:06 Authorities can find nowhere else to house him
04:09 where he can be cared for properly
04:11 and given that chance to life he so desperately wants.
04:15 I just don't understand why this happens...
04:18 ..to...
04:21 ..so many autistic people.
04:27 Something needs...
04:32 ..to be done.
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