Healthcare inquiry calls for change to prevent further deaths

An independent inquiry has called for change to prevent people with a learning disability dying unnecessarily in NHS care.

The inquiry was ordered in response to Mencap's ‘Death by indifference' report, which told the stories of six people with a learning disability who we believe died unnecessarily while in NHS care.

The findings of the independent inquiry were launched on Tuesday 29 July 2008.

 You can read the inquiry report here.

The inquiry reveals some good practice, but also 'appalling examples of discrimination, abuse and neglect across the range of health services'. The inquiry found 'convincing evidence that people with learning disabilities have higher levels of unmet need and receive less effective treatment'.

The inquiry's recommendations include:

• reasonable adjustments for people with a learning disability by health services, including regular health checks and liaison staff across services
• a confidential inquiry into the avoidable deaths of people with a learning disability and a permanent public health observatory to promote good practice
• compulsory learning disability training for healthcare professionals
• the involvement of family carers in care and treatment
• better inspection of how the NHS treats people with a learning disability
• better data collection to identify people with a learning disability.

Mencap welcomes the findings of the independent inquiry and fully supports the recommendations. The government must now act on these recommendations to stop anyone else with a learning disability suffering unnecessary pain and death.