The annual report looks closely at the deaths of people with a learning disability and autistic people reviewed during 2024. The report finds that adults with a learning disability still die on average 19 years younger than the general population, and nearly 40% of these deaths are classified as avoidable.
Responding to the report, Dr Rhidian Hughes, Chief Executive of the Voluntary Organisatiosn Disability Group (VODG) says:
'Today, and for many decades before, people with a learning disability and autistic people continue to die from causes that are avoidable, and longstanding inequalities in life expectancy and access to high-quality care remain. We have known about this scandal for many years, and the pace of change - set within countless commitments and promises - has not been enough to shift the dial.
'LeDeR has become a critical source of robust evidence, used practically to drive local learning and inform national policy. Much has already been well designed and co-produced with people with a learning disability and their families - from annual health checks and raising awareness of reasonable adjustments, to mandatory training and campaigns to reduce over-medication. The critical long-standing challenge now is ensuring full implementation of what we know works.'
- ENDS -