Three quarters of people with a learning disability aged 14 and
over have received an annual health check two years ahead of an
NHS Long Term Plan target.
People with a learning disability who often find it difficult to
spot or communicate symptoms can get a full health MOT from their
GP who can quickly diagnose and treat any health problems such as
cancer, constipation, or cardiac disease before they escalate.
The news comes as the fifth annual learning
disability review and action report are published. Most
recent data shows that 97% of eligible reviews were completed
within six months, a rise of a third compared to the previous
year.
The NHS Long Term Plan set an ambition that by 2023/24, at least
75% of people aged 14 and over on the learning disability
register receive an annual health check, in a drive to tackle
health inequalities for people with a learning disability.
The latest data shows that the NHS has already hit this target
two years ahead of time and at the same time as treating hundreds
of thousands of patients with COVID-19, as 74% of eligible people
with a learning disability over the age of 14 received an annual
health check, following concerted efforts by GPs to support the
most vulnerable in our communities.
Claire Murdoch, Mental Health Director for NHS England,
said: “Every year, people with a learning disability die
sooner than they should and many from potentially avoidable
conditions, such as constipation or aspiration pneumonia.
“Despite the pandemic, the NHS has ensured that three quarters of
people over the age of 14 with a learning disability have
received their annual health check, two years ahead of the Long
Term Plan target – the health MOT’s from local GPs are crucial in
identifying and tackling major health conditions and preventable
causes of early death.
“This important report reminds us why improving the health of
people with a learning disability is a priority for the NHS and
it is vital we use this to make real and lasting change to help
close the health inequality gap seen throughout society.”
The NHS is now urging those in secondary care to set up seven
regional exemplar sites, to drive through health improvements
alongside the annual health check process.
Seven Exemplars will trailblaze new ways of working to help make
improvements to health and access to care – key priorities for
the NHS. Their focus will include increasing the uptake and
quality of annual health checks and the number of people with a
learning disability who get their flu jab each year. Important
lessons from trailblazers will be rolled out as good practice
across the NHS.
This builds on the successful pilots launched last year in
primary care, who have focused on ensuring that people with a
learning disability from ethnic minority backgrounds and
traveller communities receive their annual health check.
The news comes, as the NHS announced
yesterday that Anne Longfield, the former children’s
commissioner has been appointed as the new independent chair of
the Learning Disability and Autism Children and Young People’s
Steering Group. Anne will champion the rights of children and
young people to ensure they get the support they need at the
right time.
The NHS announced earlier this year that following consultation
with stakeholders including bereaved families, people with a
learning disability and autistic people, a new policy has been
developed for LeDer.
This will include a new collaboration with King’s College London
who will use their academic and quality improvement skills to
support the NHS to tackle health inequalities for people with a
learning disability and autistic people, this will be in
collaboration with several academic partners including University
of Central Lancashire and Kingston and St George’s University.
King’s College London will also produce the annual report for
LeDeR from next year.
