An Aberdeenshire MSP supporting the mother of a man “trapped” in Carstairs has written to the Scottish Government’s mental wellbeing and social care minister regarding the case.
Kyle Gibbon, 34, from Kemnay, has been kept at Scotland’s state psychiatric hospital, Carstairs, since 2009. He had no criminal conviction when he was transferred to the South Lanarkshire facility.
His mother, Tracey Gibbon, has continuously campaigned for his release and has now spoken to the BBC as part of its latest Disclosure investigation.
Ahead of its airing tonight, Ms Gibbon’s local MSP, Alexander Burnett, has written a letter to minister Kevin Stewart encouraging him to take action.
Asking questions
The Conservative MSP has spoken for Mr Gibbon’s mother at parliament a number of time over the years, which has extended to include other parents facing similar issues.
He wrote: “Just by dint of being autistic, having ADHD or other related conditions, they have been shepherded by a quasi-judicial process into facing life behind bars.
“It has been a solemn task to be the one to start asking questions of the Scottish
Government about what is happening at Carstairs.
“Now, something of a stone has been lifted on the plight of Kyle and many like him.”
Discussions need to happen
Mr Burnett has highlighted a potential bill and “coming home date” of March 2024 in his letter – which the families have only discovered due to the TV show and its previews.
However, he states the release process should have started “several years ago” and it should not have taken “sustained media pressure” for action to be taken.
He concludes his letter by inviting Aberdeen Central MSP Mr Stewart to meet with himself, Ms Gibbon, and the mothers of other young men featured in the investigation, for a roundtable to discuss what can be done to help now.
‘Completely unacceptable’
A Scottish Government spokesman said the government will continue working to reduce delayed discharge for adults with learning disabilities.
He said: “It is completely unacceptable for people with learning disabilities and complex care needs to spend long periods of time in hospital if they are medically fit for discharge.
“The Scottish Government and Cosla published the Coming Home Implementation Report earlier this year which sets out a clear aim to “significantly reduce delayed discharge and inappropriate out-of-area placements for adults with learning disabilities and complex care needs by March 2024.”
“We can only succeed through strong local and national partnerships that focus on joined-up planning across health and social care services, housing providers and local authorities.
“We will continue to work with individuals, families and carers with lived experience, clinicians and practitioners, commissioners and organisations across the sector to drive forward this important work, including establishing a national register to improve monitoring of those at risk of hospital admission or inappropriate placements, a new support panel to provide national oversight of the register, and a peer support network to share best practice.”
Disclosure: Locked in the Hospital will air at 8pm tonight on BBC One Scotland.
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