Getting it right

Find out more about our Getting it right campaign for equal healthcare for all people with a learning disability.

 

People with a learning disability are not getting equal access to healthcare.  Its time for the NHS to get it right.

Poor communication, assumptions about quality of life and a dangerous lack of understanding by healthcare professionals means that patients with a learning disability are getting poorer standards of care - and even dying.

Mencap's ‘Death by Indifference' campaign highlighted the untimely deaths of six people with a learning disability while in NHS care. Unfortunately, several years on from this report, we are still hearing of patients with a learning disability receiving poor treatment.

As the work of ‘Death by indifference' continues, our ‘Getting it right' campaign aims to support local campaigners, health professionals, GP surgeries, hospitals and healthcare authorities to work together to make improvements.

See the impact unequal treatment can have in our Getting it right video.

Mencap believes that:

• healthcare professionals need support, encouragement and guidance to make reasonable adjustments for patients with a learning disability
• members of the public should be given the tools to persuade health professionals and healthcare authorities to make adjustments and treat people with a learning disability equally

Mencap has worked with healthcare professionals and Royal Colleges to develop the Getting it right charter. The charter spells out the nine key activities that all healthcare professionals should make to ensure that there is equal access to health.

Has your healthcare authority signed up yet? See our list of supporters here.

If you represent a healthcare authority, you can pledge your support today.

Now we need your help.

Take action today

Ask your healthcare authority to sign up to the Getting it right charter today.

Resources for professionals

Access our series of resources for healthcare professionals, to support the delivery of excellent quality healthcare to all people with a learning disability.

Getting it right: a discussion with Jim Blair

Listen to our special podcast discussion between Jim Blair, Consultant Nurse (learning disability) and Mencap staff with a learning disability, including Ismail (left).