Disabled people without carers denied hospital treatment

PEOPLE with intellectual disabilities are being denied in-patient treatment in some hospitals unless they have a carer to accompany them 24 hours a day.

A study heard the practice applied regardless of how disabled the person was, how well they were, or how much support they needed.

Researchers were told some hospitals made it a condition before they would admit an intellectually disabled person, even if that person had come through accident and emergency.