A concerned resident with Asperger’s (now known as Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD), who asked to remain anonymous, has shared their experiences of their time in St Ann’s hospital in Poole.

The adult and their family have raised concerns that the conditions in St Ann’s hospital are not suitable for people with Asperger’s due to noise, a lack of privacy and unsanitary conditions.

The resident who has struggled with mental illness for many years and was recently diagnosed with Asperger’s has said that their condition deteriorated dramatically during their time in St Ann’s.

They added that there is a very limited provision for adults with severe mental illness and Asperger’s in the area, who need quiet and cleanly conditions to improve their situation.

ASD is a complex condition with individuals having very different needs. One of the difficulties for people with Asperger’s is sensory issues, which make things difficult in a hospital environment, as things like noise and light can have a negative effect on them.

The family of the resident are calling for a new unit to be built at St Ann’s for women with Asperger’s to be housed safely and quietly to give them the time they need to improve their situation.

A spokesperson from the community organisation, Dorset Adult Asperger’s Support (DAAS), has said that more support is required for adults with Asperger’s in the area.

She said: “Whether the mental health services are awareness trained about Asperger’s is maybe a bit of pot luck.”

“They’ve got huge waiting lists because resources are limited so people can be on a waiting list for 18 months to two years which can be quite difficult.”

There is a current ongoing project to review autism services across the county for all ages and all levels.

The project has got very high aims and people are unsure whether they will be achieved.

The DAAS spokesperson said: “They’re very aware that there are gaps in the services for adults with Asperger’s and there have been for some time, some of those are financial but they also need to get the right staff.”

“GPs can be a stumbling block, some GPs are absolutely excellent and others are appalling, we hear some horror stories about people who are not getting the support they need from their GP because of a lot of a myths about understanding Asperger’s.

“Adults with Asperger’s definitely do fall through the cracks in the area, especially at the moment.”

She added that there is a lot of weight being put on families. Many parents are worried about who is going to support their adult child when they die because it is not always obvious what they need.

Mike Kelly, Dorset HealthCare’s Clinical Director for Mental Health, said: “While we want our services to be the best they can be for all patients, it’s not uncommon for our acute wards to treat people who have neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health conditions. By their very nature, our acute wards may be noisy at times as a result of people dealing with acute mental distress. We have strict standards of hygiene and infection prevention in these wards, which are constantly monitored.

“While we cannot comment on individual circumstances, we do endeavour to support all our patients so they can lead safe and fulfilling lives. Where patients or their families feel they are not receiving the support they expect, we work with them and do all we can to address their concerns. If they remain unhappy about any aspect of our services, we urge them to contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) for further support.”

Dorset Adult Asperger’s Support recommends going along to one of their groups to meet others who are facing the same issues, they also help families who are at their wits end.

If you have ASD and are suffering with your mental wellbeing or know someone who is, the DAAS group advises that you contact one of the following services for help in a crisis: the Samaritans (116 123), Access Mental Health (0300 123 5440), Saneline (0300 304 7000), CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) (0800 58 58 58), Carers in Crisis (www.mylifemycare.com/carers-in-crisis) and the Helplines Partnership (https://helplines.org/helplines/).