Adults with Learning Disabilities in England Dying Nearly 20 Years Earlier, Report Reveals.
A new NHS-commissioned report has found that adults with learning disabilities and autism in England are dying, on average, almost two decades earlier than the general population. Despite some improvements in life expectancy, the research highlights persistent inequalities and preventable deaths.
A Startling Gap in Life Expectancy
The Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR), led by King’s College London, analysed 3,556 deaths in 2023. It found:
-
People with learning disabilities had an average life expectancy of 62.5 years.
-
This is 19.5 years shorter than the general population.
-
39% of deaths were considered avoidable, nearly double the national average.
The most common avoidable causes of death included influenza, pneumonia, digestive tract cancers, and heart disease.
“People with a learning disability are dying a shocking 19.5 years younger than the general population,” said Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Mencap. “No one should die early because they don’t get the right treatment.”
Real-Life Tragedy: David’s Story
The human cost of these inequalities is illustrated by the case of David Lodge, a 40-year-old man with multiple learning disabilities, including autism and dyspraxia.
In January 2022, David was admitted to Hull Royal Infirmary after being found severely dehydrated. His sister, psychiatrist Dr. Keri Lodge, said staff showed an “overwhelming lack of urgency” compared to how other patients would have been treated.
Basic checks were missed, pain relief was not provided, and he was placed in a general admissions ward instead of intensive care. He died within hours.
“They were side-tracked by the fact he had a learning disability,” Dr. Lodge said. “I think he would have been treated very differently if that wasn’t the case.”
The hospital trust later apologised, admitting failings and promising reforms.
Delays and Missed Care Still Common
The LeDeR report found that:
-
37% of cases involved delays in treatment.
-
28% revealed failures to follow proper diagnostic or treatment guidelines.
Professor Andre Strydom, chief investigator, said while NHS initiatives such as annual health checks and digital “reasonable adjustment flags” are helping, “far more needs to be done” to ensure equal care.
A Call for Urgent Action
People with learning disabilities and autism account for around 1.5 million individuals in the UK, yet they continue to face systemic barriers in healthcare. Campaigners stress that training alone is not enough—there needs to be cultural change and accountability within the NHS.
Researcher Richard Keagan-Bull, who has a learning disability himself, called the findings “really upsetting.”
“People are still dying quite young in hospitals and not getting the right support and care. It could be me, or it could be someone I know. These deaths need to be taken seriously.”
Government and NHS Response
The NHS says progress is underway:
-
3 million staff have received training to improve care for learning disability and autism patients.
-
A digital flag system now alerts staff when patients need reasonable adjustments.
-
The number of reviews highlighting good NHS practice has increased by 10% since 2021.
In Parliament, Health Minister Stephen Kinnock admitted the situation was “unacceptable” but pledged continued improvements.
Conclusion
The new report makes one thing clear: while life expectancy for people with learning disabilities is improving slightly, the gap with the rest of the population remains unacceptably wide. Families, charities, and campaigners are demanding urgent reforms to ensure that disability never again becomes a factor in whether someone receives lifesaving treatment.
Comments
Post a Comment