Responding to the Nuffield Trust report on learning disability, Royal College of Nursing Professional Lead in Learning Disabilities Nursing Jonathan Beebee said:
“It is a damning indictment of the way health inequalities have been allowed to flourish that those with learning disabilities are dying much sooner and from preventable causes.
“People with learning disabilities can have complex health needs and often face barriers in accessing health care services. This includes vital prevention services such as cancer screening, vaccinations, and annual health checks.
“Learning disability nurses have a crucial role in supporting those with learning disabilities to receive care, both in hospitals and across community settings. But their numbers have fallen by over 42% in the last decade, leaving some of the most vulnerable without vital support and putting their health at risk.
“Learning disability students were the most affected group by the removal of the nursing bursary leading to a sharp decline in applications. The government must take action to boost the numbers by incentivising students and paying nurses fairly upon registration. Failure to do so will only worsen the crisis in learning disability health care.
“This report should act as a catalyst to invest in this vital part of the nursing workforce and in doing so improve care for those who need it."
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Notes to editors
The Nuffield Trust report says - To calculate the percentage change in the number of full-time-equivalent (FTE) learning disability nurses, we used the number of FTE learning disability nurses in 2010 and in 2022 – 5,274 and 3,037 respectively – giving a percentage decrease of 42%.
