Mencap has backed calls for
the Government
The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much tax people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (NHS) should work.
to set up a national body to monitor and investigate the deaths of 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.
, as its research highlights that over a third (37%) of deaths of people with a learning disability are due to them not getting the right health care.
Mencap says that delays in diagnosis and treatment, lack of basic care and poor communication by health professionals, are costing the lives of hundreds of children and adults with a learning disability every year.
Tina Paplabropoulos died on 30 January 2009, aged 23 years old, at Basildon Hospital. Her death is being investigated by the Health
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is someone who can help you if you have complained about a
service
A service gives people what they need, like healthcare services that help people when they are ill, and support services that give people support.
, like a hospital. If you think that the service has not looked at your complaint properly, you can take your complaint to the ombudsman. The ombudsman is an independent person who will look at your complaint.
. Tina’s mother Christine says:
I have lost one child needlessly - Tina was failed at every stage of her treatment…I need to know that my other daughter, who also has a learning disability, won't be treated with the same neglect and lack of dignity if she falls ill.
Mencap commissioned research by Professors Glover and Emerson of the Improving Health and Lives Learning Disabilities Observatory [1],which found that 1,238 children and adults die across England every year because they are not getting the right health care.
The research is a national estimate based on the findings of the Confidential Inquiry into premature deaths of people with learning disabilities (CIPOLD), published today, which finds that people with learning disabilities are more likely to die prematurely compared to the general population. The Confidential Inquiry has been led by academics at the University of Bristol and funded by the Department of Health, and recommends the establishment of a National Learning Disability Mortality Review Body.
Jan Tregelles, Mencap’s acting chief executive, says:
A scandal of avoidable deaths on the scale of Mid-Staffs takes place every year for people with a learning disability in the NHS. These deaths, caused by poor care and delays in diagnosis and treatment, highlight the scale of discrimination
Discrimination is when someone is treated differently (usually in a bad way) because of things like their disability or their religion
Religion is to do with the things you believe about the world. For example you may believe there is a god or something else. Examples of religions are Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. . faced by disabled patients in the NHS.
Mencap supports the Confidential Inquiry’s recommendations and we are calling on the Government to set up a national body to monitor and investigate the deaths of people with a learning disability, so we can learn from mistakes and stop this tragic waste of life.
Mencap has campaigned for many years against discrimination in the NHS. In 2007, the publication of its landmark report,Death by indifference, led to an Independent Inquiry, headed up by Sir Jonathan Michael.
The charity has continued to hear from families whose loved ones have died within the NHS. Last year, Mencap launched its report 74 deaths and counting, detailing these cases.
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Mencap is in contact with and gives support to many families who have experienced the death of a loved one while in NHS care. If you would like to speak to a family, or a Mencap
spokesperson
A spokesperson is someone who speaks up about something. They usually speak up on behalf of a group or
organisation
An organisation are a group of people who work together.
.
, please contact: media@mencap.org.uk.
About Mencap
There are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK. Mencap works to support people with a learning disability and their families and carers by fighting to change laws and improve services and access to
education
Education is when you learn things. When you fill in a form to get a job, education means you write where you went to school, college or university.
,
employment
Employment means having a job.
and
leisure
Leisure is when you have time to do things you enjoy like playing sports or going to the pub.
facilities.
Mencap supports thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.
[1] Estimating how many deaths of people with learning disabilities in England could be prevented, Professors Glover and Emerson of the Improving Health and Lives Learning Disabilities Observatory.