MORE than a million pounds has been pledged to help people with learning difficulties live independently in Hampshire.

New supported flats will help adults with autism and other conditions stay out of hospital under an NHS-funded plan.

It is hoped the scheme will make patients feel more secure, integrate them in communities and relieve pressure on the wards.

But Britain's leading autism charity has warned that the scheme will only be enough if staff are properly trained.

The NHS is investing nearly £1.3m locally as part of a national programme sparked by sickening abuse of disabled people at a private hospital.

In 2011 a TV investigation revealed a regime of torture and abuse at Winterbourne View in Gloucestershire, with one staff member pouring mouthwash into a patient's eyes.

The scandal forced a major rethink on services for people with learning disabilities and eventually led to an alliance between councils in Hampshire, Southampton, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth.

The Transforming Care Partnership will change the way the NHS commissions and delivers services, with the new money supporting two property schemes.

Some £935,000 will be spent on three "training flats" providing flexible support for patients currently in hospital. They will be able to trial living on their own and developing everyday skills.

The scheme will also fund a nursing service for people at risk of being admitted to intervention units.

A second project, receiving £340,000 from the NHS, will pay for five flats or houses for hospital patients who need social care before they can live independently.

Tim Nicholls, policy Manager at the National Autistic Society, said: “We are pleased that Hampshire CCG has allocated money for these services to support people on the autism spectrum and/or with a learning disability with complex needs. This is an important step in meeting NHS England’s goal to reduce the number of people living in inappropriate inpatient units by up to a half, through providing the services to support them to live in the community.

“But they must make sure that those services meet individuals’ needs. As well as providing buildings, it is key that all staff receive thorough training in autism and that each autistic person has enough care and support provided to allow them to play an active role in their community. This is a vital responsibility of CCGs up and down the country and NHS England has an important role to play overseeing it."

The location of the new flats has yet to be confirmed.