Seen, Heard, Screened

People with a learning disability are more likely to have complex health needs than the general population, yet are also more likely to experience difficulties accessing NHS services, putting them at risk of missing out on the care they need.

The most recent LeDeR report showed that people with a learning disability are almost twice as likely to die avoidably than the general population.

When people with a learning disability die avoidably, this is over three times more likely to be from treatable causes than the general population. Research also shows when people with a learning disability get the care they need, they are less likely to die young (LeDeR, 2025).

Barriers across the healthcare system can prevent or delay people with a learning disability from getting the care they need. Some of the these barriers can be addressed with training – for example difficulties with communication in appointments, or decisions not to treat someone based on their learning disability. However, many of the issues are because of how the NHS works, for example, services not working together well, or organisations not being able to do things in a different way when needed.

Systems and processes were the most commonly reported problem with care in the most recent LeDeR report. To tackle health inequality for people with a learning disability, we need the NHS to change the way it works.

We need the Government to make sure that the NHS works for people with a learning disability by:

• Making sure the NHS has good systems for the needs of people with a learning disability, including those most at risk of missing out on care i.e. from minoritised groups.
• Make sure health services identify people with a learning disability and what support they need.
• Make sure people get the reasonable adjustments they need, such as an appointment at a quieter time of day or accessible information.
• Make sure there is good quality training for NHS staff on learning disability and autism .
• Provide joined up, coordinated care for people with complex health needs.
• Offer better support to help people stay well, including improved access to screening.
• Increase the number of learning disability nurses to provide support both in hospitals and in the community .

Mencap have been campaigning on health inequality for people with a learning disability for many years. In addition to our campaigning we:

• Support people and families who have struggled to access healthcare through our Information and Advice Service.
• Deliver the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training in Learning Disability and Autism, helping to ensure thousands of healthcare professionals can provide good quality care to people with a learning disability.
• Work in partnership with organisations such as NHS England and DHSC to help them tackle health inequality and hold them to account for delivering care.
• Amplify the voices of people with a learning disability and their families, ensuring national attention to the issues they face through our parliamentary and media work.