Introduction

In 2007 Mencap's ‘Death by Indifference' campaign highlighted the premature deaths of six young people with a learning disability whilst under NHS care. Poor communication, assumptions about quality of life and a dangerous lack of understanding by healthcare professionals meant that patients with a learning disability were getting poorer standards of care - and even dying. Several years on Mencap continue to receive reports of patients with a learning disability receiving poor treatment. People with learning disability often feel their GP and their staff do not listen them to. They struggle to master the barriers to access to care from primary care teams with lack of reasonable adjustments. These health inequalities are avoidable and likely to be in contravention of legal requirements under the Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005. The following information is guidance to support Gps and their staff care for people with a learning disability

People with a learning disability are not getting equal access to healthcare. Its time for General Practice to get it right.

Dr Matt Hoghton

RCGP Learning Disabilities Champion

Download the full document by clicking here