"Sub-standard" health and social care for people with learning disabilities

By Cathy Reay

The deaths of two disabled people as a consequence of "significant and distressing" health and social care failures should not go ignored, says a new report.

Published by the Health Service Ombudsman and Local Government Ombudsman, the report highlights facts that show people with learning disabilities are receiving sub-standard care from public bodies that often fail to adhere to basic human rights principles.

It focuses on the direct experiences of people with learning disabilities which have stripped them of their dignity and left their families feeling demoralised.

The report*, titled ‘Six Lives’, is based on complaints received by Mencap on behalf of families of six learning disabled people who died in NHS care between 2003 and 2005.

The Ombudsmen recommend that the NHS immediately review the effectiveness of the systems they have in place and the capacity and capability of those services.

Local Government Ombudsman, Jerry White, said: "Six Lives shows that on many occasions basic policy and guidance were not observed, the needs of people with learning disabilities were not accommodated and services were uncoordinated.

The complex factors which led to these failures to protect vulnerable individuals demonstrate the need for stronger leadership throughout the health and care professions - this report is not solely a concern for specialists in learning disabilities."

Ismail Kaji, a Mencap spokesman with learning difficulties, said the report shows a ”widespread failure by health professionals to provide the proper level of care for people with a learning disability.”

He added: “The rights of people with a learning disability must be respected, including their right to good quality health care.”

Anne Novis, a trustee of the UK Disabled Peoples’ Council, said: “Anything identifying the ways in which disabled people are not getting their needs addressed is very positive and what I would hope to see now is positive action towards the changes this report has deemed to be necessary.”

Phil Hope (pictured), minister for care services, said that preventable deaths of people with learning disabilities are “absolutely unacceptable”, adding that the Department of Health is “taking action to ensure that people with learning disabilities get the equal access to the health care that they deserve.”
24 March 2009

*Six Lives report can be viewed at http://www.lgo.org.uk/news/2009/mar/ombudsmen-call-review-care-people-learning-disabilities/