Natural Breaks have signed up to the VODG (Voluntary Organisations Disability Group) STOMP Campaign.

VODG is a national charity that represents leading not-for-profit organisations who provide services to disabled people in ways that promote independence, choice and control. 

STOMP stands for “Stopping the Over-medication of people with a learning disability, autism or both” and is a health campaign to stop the over-use of psychotropic medication to manage people’s behaviour. It is estimated that on an average day in England between 30,000 and 35,000 people with a learning disability, autism or both are taking prescribed psychotropic medication without appropriate clinical justification. This is medication which results in alterations to perception, mood or consciousness. Long-term use of these medicines puts people at unnecessary risk of a wide range of side effects including weight gain, organ failure and even premature death. 

In response VODG, NHS England and sector stakeholders have developed the STOMP pledge for social care. This aims to improve the quality of life of people with a learning disability, autism or both by supporting providers to ensure they only receive psychotropic medication for the right reasons and in the right amount. 

Natural Breaks are proud to pledge our support to such an important initiative. Chief Executive Diane Hesketh said “Natural Breaks prides itself in offering truly person centred support and we believe that people with disabilities should have the right to the same treatment and care as everyone else.”