The LeDeR report for 2023, published just yesterday, shows that people with learning disabilities and autistic people are still dying far too young – on average 20 years earlier than other people.
Other key findings from the report:
- 4 in 10 deaths were avoidable – double the rate of people without a learning disability.
- 1 in 3 people did not get the usual treatment for their condition or symptoms.
- 2 in 5 people waited too long for tests.
- People with learning disabilities often develop diabetes earlier and are more likely to get bowel cancer younger.
- Having a learning disability nurse in hospital made a real difference, with people receiving better care and reasonable adjustments.
Learning Disability England representative body members have responded to findings of the report:
“We keep hearing that people with learning disabilities and autistic people die younger, but we must not stop being shocked by this – it is an experience we can and must change.
Local improvement work is important, but on its own it is not enough. We need clear national leadership and system change to join up local actions, link them into major strategies like the NHS 10 Year Plan, and tackle the wider causes of poor health.
This requires cross-government focus and commitment. Without it, people with learning disabilities and autistic people will continue to face some of the worst health inequalities in our society.
Finally, we urge health leaders to make sure people with learning disabilities and autistic people are fully included in neighbourhood health plans – otherwise, we fear people will be further disadvantaged and excluded.”
What is the LeDeR report?
The Learning from lives and deaths (LeDeR) looks into why people with learning disabilities and autistic people often have worse health and die younger than they should – many from illnesses that could have been prevented or treated.
LeDeR studies these deaths to understand what went wrong and what barriers stopped people from getting the healthcare they needed. By learning from each death, the programme works to improve local and national health services.
The goal is to make healthcare better and fairer for people with learning disabilities and autistic people, so fewer people die too young.
There are accessible versions of the report, including Easy Read versions and videos, that you can find on the LeDeR website: