New guide to tackle health inequalities faced by people with disabilities

The Department of Health has published a new guide for primary care trusts, local authorities and learning disability partnership boards in a bid to address the health inequalities face by people with learning disabilities.

The guide, World class commissioning for the health and wellbeing of people with learning disabilities, is designed to ensure that all health services are commissioned in ways that are more responsive and provide better outcomes for people with learning disabilities. The health services covered in the guide include primary care, community health services, mental health and acute care.

A series of reports – including an independent inquiry conducted by Sir Jonathan Michael in 2008 – have found significant shortcomings in the way that services are provided for those with learning disabilities. These failures have contributed to “poorer health outcomes, avoidable suffering and, at worst, premature deaths”, the guide said.

A joint report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and the Local Government Ombudsman this year meanwhile recommended that all NHS and social care organisations urgently review the effectiveness of their systems, and their capacity and capability, for understanding and meeting the needs of people with learning disabilities.

For PCTs, the guide recommends a comprehensive needs assessment, which seeks evidence on the numbers, health needs and experiences of people with learning disabilities. PCT board members are requested to exercise their duties under disability discrimination legislation by asking tough questions about how commissioned services are meeting the needs of people with learning disabilities.

The guide also calls for learning disability partnership boards to continually review services and outcomes and help develop public commitments to achieve their goals in the next five years.

The responsibility for commissioning social care was recently transferred to local authorities.