Welcome to your supporter magazine
Hello, I’m Rahima, an Ambassador for Mencap – I’m working to stamp out health inequalities for people with a learning disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. to ensure that everyone gets the care they deserve.
In this issue of Mencap Matters, you can read Ismail’s story and his work campaigning to show that annual health checks are helping to improve the health outcomes of people with a learning disability. Plus, meet Surekha, who
shares how being on the
Learning Disability Register
The learning disability register is a list of people with a learning disability that the doctor’s surgery looks after.
has helped her access better healthcare.
As a valued supporter of Mencap’s work, you are helping to bring reform to the healthcare system to make it more inclusive. Your donations enable me and others with a learning disability to have better access to more personalised healthcare.
Happy reading!
Rahima
Stamping out health inequalities with your support
Getting more people on the Learning Disability Register is at the heart of our mission to improve healthcare for those with a learning disability. It guarantees essential adjustments in medical care, free annual health checks, flu vaccines, and COVID-19 boosters—life-changing benefits that can save lives.
Our focus on expanding this register is making a real difference, particularly within Black and Asian communities. For over 75 years, Mencap has championed better healthcare for people with a learning disability. Thanks to your generous support, we continue to strive against health inequalities and push for equal access to care. The Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) report released in 2023 revealed a shocking truth: on average, people with a learning disability die up to 23 years younger than those without, often due to poor-quality healthcare. Together, we can change this.
Closing the health gap
It’s 2025, yet health inequalities still steal years from people with a learning disability. They face overwhelming barriers to healthcare—misdiagnosed symptoms, dismissive attitudes, and confusing communication often leaving serious health issues unnoticed and untreated.
About Annual Health Checks
This is why annual health checks are more than just routine appointments; they are lifelines. These checks catch problems early, giving people with a learning disability the chance to get the right care and live healthier, longer lives. Everyone deserves a fair chance at good health—no exceptions.
- Available once a year for people over the age of 14 on the Learning Disability Register.
- Carried out by a doctor (GP) or nurse to monitor health and detect problems early.
- Covers physical and mental health, including things like weight, blood pressure, and lifestyle.
- Have an important role in forming a health action plan.
- Helps to put reasonable adjustments in place for better healthcare appointments.
- Provides a safe space for people with a learning disability to discuss their health.
Ismail's Story
Ismail, a Parliamentary Affairs Support Officer for Mencap, is passionate about improving healthcare for people with a learning disability. Living with complex health needs, he knows how crucial annual health checks are in preventing serious issues. NHS The NHS is the National Health Service. The NHS gives free healthcare to everyone in the UK and includes things like your GP (doctors) surgery and hospitals. statistics shows six in ten people with a learning disability may not be on the Learning Disability Register, risking missed care.
Healthcare suitable for everyone
“We’re more likely to have complex health needs, and when the system fails us, lives are lost. Good GP care is vital to keep us healthy,” Ismail says
“There’s still a long way to go to ensure everyone gets the care they need from GPs and nurses. Annual health checks are a crucial part of that, and more people need to know about them. We need a healthcare system that works in real life, as well as on paper.”
LeDeR data also highlights that people with a learning disability from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds are dying even younger. Their average age of death is just 34, compared to 62 for their white counterparts.
Surekah's Story
Surekha shares how joining the Learning Disability Register has improved her healthcare. The register ensures GPs make reasonable adjustments, like using simple language and taking extra time to explain things.
With support from her doctor, Surekha now gets annual health checks that help catch potential issues early.
“At the health check, the doctor makes sure I’m okay—it’s like an MOT for a car!” she says. More importantly, she feels confident asking for information in a way she understands. For Surekha, the register isn’t just about appointments—it’s about feeling heard and in control of her health.
Our Treat Me Well group visits Parliament
Our Treat Me Well Groups continue to do amazing work improving healthcare for people with a learning disability. Recently, Mencap campaigners Rahima and Ismail (featured in this issue) visited Parliament and gave evidence at the Health and
Social Care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
Select Committee.
They shared powerful stories from their experiences, highlighting key concerns about whether the NHS 10 Year Plan adequately meets the needs of underrepresented groups.
The inquiry focused on the Department of Health and Social Care’s approach to the public
consultation
Consultation is finding out what people think about something.
for the NHS 10 Year Plan and whether it truly addresses the needs of people with a learning disability.
42% of deaths among people with a learning disability are avoidable.
Our Treat Me Well campaigners took a birthday cake to Parliament Square—not to celebrate, but to expose a heartbreaking truth. Only 4 in 10 people with a learning disability live to see their 65th birthday. This shocking reality cannot be ignored.
With powerful public support, our campaigners made sure this urgent issue was seen and heard, raising awareness and demanding change. Everyone deserves the chance to live a full and healthy life. Together, we can make that happen.