Jan Tregelles, chief executive of Mencap, comments:
We broadly welcome the announcement today by the Department of Health regarding the new GP Contract. In particular we welcome that care homes will have a dedicated telephone line to GPs. GPs will also regularly review emergency admissions from care homes to avoid unnecessary call-outs in future and will monitor and report on the quality of out-of-hours care.
Recent research
Research is a way of finding out information which could come from books, or asking people what they think. has shown that 1,200 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. die avoidably within the health service every year. This is the equivalent of three people dying needlessly every single day. A third (37%) of deaths of people with a learning disability are due to them not getting the right health care. Patients with a learning disability experience
Experience is when you have learned or tried something before. delays in diagnosis, delays in treatment, lack of basic care and poor communication by health professionals. This is unacceptable.
We are encouraged by Government measures to try and address this problem. However, it is unclear at this time, how these specific measures will impact on the 1.4 million people with a learning disability in the UK. We will continue to engage with the Department of Health to ensure that people with a learning disability get the high quality health care they deserve.
-ENDS-
For more information or to arrange an
interview
An interview is a meeting where you talk to someone or a group of people about something. When you have an interview for a job, you have to answer questions and say why you would be good at the job. The person who gives the best answers is offered the job.
with 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.
.
or for a
case study
A case study is a piece of writing that tells people more information about someone's experience.
, contact the Mencap Press Office on 020 7696 5414 or 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, their families and carers by fighting to change laws, 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.
For advice and information about learning disability and Mencap services in your area, contact the Learning Disability Helpline on 0808 808 1111 (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday) or email helpline@mencap.org.uk.