Despite rising awareness of health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities, the registered nurses in learning disabilities workforce is at risk.

Care for people with learning disabilities has shifted away from institutional settings towards community settings. However, complex health needs, compounded by communication and cognitive challenges require specialised nursing skills.  

As services have changed, the role of learning disability nurses has become misunderstood. The perception is that they simply provide advice regarding  reasonable adjustments; which minimises their broader expertise in holistic health and the extensive neurological conditions that exist. These nurses are essential across all health care settings, and their skills encompass broader neuro-disabilities than learning disabilities alone. 

However, a lack of vision for the overall profession has led to recruitment and retention issues. This year, no new student learning disability nurses enrolled in the South East region. In Scotland, learning disability registered nurse numbers reached their lowest point in over a decade; in Northern Ireland the workforce (by FTE) declined by 25% between 2011 and 2024. The RCN must lead in defining the profession’s role and workforce needs, collaborating with UK government bodies to secure a sustainable future for learning disability nursing. 

References

Devereux E (2024) Northern Ireland nursing workforce grows by 23% in a decade. Available at: https://www.nursingtimes.net/workforce/northern-ireland-nursing-workforce-grows-by-23-in-a-decade-19-08-2024

Royal College of Nursing (2024) ‘Learning disability nurse deserts’ developing across England, as RCN calls for government to rescue specialty. Available at: https://www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/Press-Releases/learning-disability-nurse-deserts-developing-across-england

Royal College of Nursing, Scotland (2024) The Nursing Workforce in Scotland. Available at: https://www.rcn.org.uk/About-us/Our-Influencing-work/Policy-briefings/nursing-workforce-in-scotland-2024