New NHS data reveals ongoing health inequalities

New data from NHS Digital on the health and care of people with learning disabilities underlines the stark inequalities they face.

I welcome the increase in the number of people getting annual health checks, but more people still need to be having health checks. 55% of people having them is not enough.

It is clear more work needs to be done to improve the health of people with learning disability. The annual health checks save lives. Cancer screenings also save lives and we need to reduce the gap in access for people with learning disability.

Most of all, the gap in mortality is still too high. 14 years for men and 18 years for women is shocking and shows one of the most basic rights, our right to life, is not being upheld. We don’t accept this for people without learning disabilities and autism. It should be unacceptable for everyone.

Jordan Smith,
Dimensions Health Equalities Lead