An Independent Inquiry has called for change to prevent people with a learning disability dying unnecessarily in NHS care

August 2008

The inquiry was ordered in response to Mencap's 'Death by indifference' report, which told the stories of six people with a learning disability who Mencap believe died unnecessarily while in NHS care.

The findings of the independent inquiry were launched in July 2008.
You can read the inquiry report here.

The inquiry reveals some good practice, but also 'appalling examples of discrimination, abuse and neglect across the range of health services'. The inquiry found 'convincing evidence that people with learning disabilities have higher levels of unmet need and receive less effective treatment'.

The inquiry's recommendations include:

• reasonable adjustments for people with a learning disability by health services, including regular health checks and liaison staff across services.
• a confidential inquiry into the avoidable deaths of people with a learning disability and a permanent public health observatory to promote good practice.
• compulsory learning disability training for healthcare professionals.
• the involvement of family carers in care and treatment.
• better inspection of how the NHS treats people with a learning disability.
• better data collection to identify people with a learning disability.

The PMLD Network welcomes the findings of the independent inquiry and fully supports the recommendations.

Beverley Dawkins, Chair of the PMLD Network said 'Tom, one of the six people in Mencap's Death by Indifference report, had profound and multiple learning disabilities. People with profound and multiple learning disabilities often have very complex health needs and are particularly vulnerable when accessing mainstream healthcare. The government must act on the recommendations of the inquiry to stop anyone else with profound and multiple learning disabilities, like Tom, suffering unnecessary pain and death.'

Read Tom's story in Mencap's Death by Indifference report.