Responding to the Nuffield Trust report on preventing people with a learning disability from dying too young, Dr Rhidian Hughes Chief Executive of the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) says:
‘We know that far too many people with a learning disability face disproportionate health inequalities and preventable, avoidable deaths.
‘As this report reiterates, people live healthier, longer lives when the system intentionally seeks to address health inequalities and the right care and support is put in place. Yet it is the stark reality that having a learning disability often means someone is less likely to benefit from public health advice, preventative screening or support for their mental health, because of ingrained systemic barriers.
‘Good practice does exist, but more needs to be done to challenge the attitudes and perceptions that put up barriers to people living longer and healthier lives.’
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Key messages
VODG members including Mencap and Brandon Trust were involved in this report, ensuring the voice of people with a learning disability were heard.
Some of the key findings from the report:
- People with a learning disability are more likley to be overweight: 31% of people aged 18-24 with a learning disability are obese compared to 16% of those without.
- People with a learning disability are less likley to take part in cancer checks: over the last five years there's been about a 36 percentage point gap in screening rates for cervical cancer.
- People with a learning disability are less likley to be referred for talking therapies.
- Only 1 in 4 people with a learning disability are on the GP learning disability register, so many people are missing out on health checks. Health issues are often found later in people with a learning disability: 35% of people with a learning disability who died with cancer had their cancer identified at an emergency presentation at hospital.
There are five recommendations in the report:
- Improve annual health checks
- Campaigns to enhance awareness of the learning disability register
- More NHS staff in care coordination roles
- Training to esnure better reasonable adjustments
- Tailored weight management programmes