AN autistic man is to be ordered out of residential care against his family's wishes.

Gerard Dunn's relatives are fighting a decision made by Bury and Rochdale Health Authority and Bury social services to return him to care in the community.

His Prestwich family says a previous spell of care in the community was "disastrous".

They claim the health authority and social services are ignoring Gerard and his family by removing him from Raby Hall, a Wirral Autistic Society Home, where he is "extremely happy".

The family has finally been granted an independent tribunal to look into his case, but his mother Alice, brother Michael and sister Maureen say social services is now refusing to let Gerard stay at Raby Hall until the result of the tribunal, and will not tell them where he will be going.

Gerard's sister, Mrs Maureen Teichmann, of Lowther Road, Prestwich, said: "After leaving Calderstones Hospital in 1990 when it closed down, Gerard spent a disastrous five years at the hands of Bury Health Authorities' mismanagement.

"Eventually, when it was quite clear how bad his placement in the community was - there were few day-care facilities, staffing was poor and the home was mismanaged - my late father finally managed to get him a place at Raby Hall." Gerard now lives in a community with dedicated, trained staff giving 24-hour care. He has the use of a kitchen garden - his favourite activity - gymnasium, swimming pool, regular weekly trips and even the hall's narrow boat for residents' short breaks.

"Gerard is happy and has a good quality of life," added Mrs Teichmann.

However, since the appointment of a new worker to the health authority to oversee Gerard's case, his future happiness is threatened.

Mrs Teichmann claimed: "She decided, after a short period of time and without even seeing him, that care in the community would be better for Gerard and has ignored all our views.

"Raby Hall has now told us that Gerard will be removed on November 3.

"An autistic person needs routine and familiarity to feel secure. And it seems to me that the health authority and social services are on the point of subjecting him to another disastrous move into the community while hypocritically claiming to have Gerard's interest at heart.

"Bearing in mind that he will not have the benefit of an independent tribunal before his move Gerard will not even have a fair trial.

"Gerard's future is uncertain and his family is being treated with contempt."

This week Bury and Rochdale Health Authority refused to discuss Gerard's case.

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