According to new analysis released today by the Health Foundation, NHS in England could face a shortfall of almost 40,000 nurses by 2024.
Jackie O’Sullivan, Executive Director of Advocacy Advocacy is when you get support to have your say. , Activism Activism is taking action to make change. Going to a campaign A campaign is when people work together to try to change something. event with others, writing letters and speaking up are all ways to take action. and Communications at Mencap, said: “This shocking analysis from the Health Foundation must be an immediate spur for further action. As the recent Learning Disability Mortality Review (LeDeR) report shows, devastating health inequalities create a situation where men and women 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. die over 20 years earlier than the general population. Learning disability nurses play a vital role in many health and care settings and are key to ensuring this group of people, who are so often forgotten, excluded and discriminated against, get the healthcare support and reasonable adjustments they need. Learning disability nurses make all the difference to care outcomes but there is already a huge shortage of people in this crucial role.
“We urgently need a comprehensive workforce strategy A strategy is a plan to show what an organisation An organisation are a group of people who work together. , or a person, wants to do and how they are going to do it. from 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. , combined with further investment in training and retaining nurses. The 1.5 million people across the UK with a learning disability have the right to care that meets their needs and supports them to live happy and healthy lives.”
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