Mencap is deeply concerned by the news that crucial NHS targets for people with a learning disability could be scrapped. 

Reports suggest that as part of efforts to reduce waiting times, the health secretary, Wes Streeting, is planning to abolish a number of key goals, including the commitment to provide annual health checks for 75% of people with a learning disability. 

The suggestion that supporting people with a learning disability to live healthy lives is merely a “special interest” is profoundly disappointing and risks undermining years of progress. 

NHS - Do you include me?

"If the government really wants to improve the NHS in England over the next 10 years, then it has to be better for everyone, including people with learning disability." 
- Vijay, Mencap campaigns officer

The statistics are stark: people with a learning disability die, on average, up to 23 years younger than the general population, and many of these deaths are avoidable. Targets, such as the annual health check commitment, have been vital in shining a light on the health inequalities faced by this group and driving action to address them. Removing these targets threatens to reverse hard-won progress and leave people with a learning disability further behind.

Mencap’s response is clear: wanting people with a learning disability to have the same chance at a healthy life as everyone else is not a “special interest.” It is a matter of basic fairness and human dignity.

We understand the need to prioritise reducing waiting times and improving services for all. However, it is unacceptable that this should come at the expense of vulnerable groups who already face significant barriers to accessing healthcare. Targets focus attention and action on areas that might otherwise be overlooked, and for people with a learning disability, they have been a lifeline.

A patient and a doctor walking through a hospital ward talking

We urge the government to reconsider these proposals. By maintaining and building upon these commitments, the NHS can continue to address the stark health inequalities experienced by people with a learning disability and ensure that they are not left behind.

Mencap will continue to advocate for the rights of people with a learning disability and push for a healthcare system that works for everyone. Decisions like these must not undo years of progress or consign people with a learning disability to worse health outcomes and shorter lives. 

Join us in calling for change

We’ll be monitoring these developments closely and calling on the government to ensure that people with a learning disability are not forgotten in these reforms. Together, we can ensure that everyone has a fair chance at a healthy and fulfilling life.