On 30 January 2025, NHS England published its operational planning guidance for 2025/26, this says what their targets are and what they will check in local health services.

This is the first planning guidance that has been put out since the government was elected in July 2024.

They have also published the Mandate for the NHS – this says the things the NHS should focus on.

The Learning Disability England Representative Body have written a statement to respond to what these say:

We are pleased to see the important targets include:

• Stopping people with learning disabilities and autistic people being sent to mental health hospitals when they do not need to be
• Reducing inequalities in care and heath inequalities

Targets in many areas have been reduced as the government asks the NHS to focus on what they think is most important.

This could mean some people are not included in the big changes like reducing waiting lists. That must not happen.

Last week a newspaper article said someone had said people with learning disabilities are a ‘special interest group’.

We think that is a dangerous message to ever say about people but especially about people who on average die often preventable deaths 20 years younger than non disabled people.

As Scott a member said:

‘We are only asking for people with learning disabilities to have a fair chance at life.’

People with learning disabilities are not alone in often having a worse experience of NHS care or other health inequalities.

We hope the government, NHS England and local Integrated Care Boards will include everyone in the changes they make this year and the 10-Year Plan.

There is a big opportunity here to do all the targets in a way that includes people with learning disabilities.

Annual Health Checks make a difference – Evidence says that as well as NICE guidance confirms (Learning disabilities | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE)

Some NHS Trusts have taken action to reduce inequity on waiting lists. An example in Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust.

The We Can’t Wait campaign explains why people with learning disabilities think this is important.

The NHS must carry on learning how to make reasonable adjustments and GPs can do annual health checks (and still get paid for them) – these are two things they can do that we know save lives.

Our big message to all members is Annual Health Checks for people with learning disabilities have not stopped – do go ask your GP for a health check even if you have not had one before.

NHS website have information here