Learning Disability Today
Supporting professionals working in learning disability and autism services

Mencap creates Easy Read NHS 10-year plan consultation questionnaire

Mencap has created an Easy Read version of the NHS 10-year plan consultation questionnaire to help people with a learning disability get involved and have their say in the consultation on the future of the NHS in England.

The charity will share survey responses with Change NHS – the group running the government consultation, which closes on February 14th 2025.

Participants must live in England and be over 16 to participate. You can ignore some questions if you do not want to answer them, and you do not need to give your name or any personal details to take part.

What is the NHS 10-year plan consultation?

The NHS 10-year plan consultation is part of the government’s health mission to build a health service fit for the future.

It began with Lord Darzi’s independent review of the NHS in England, published on 12 September 2024. The review set out the challenges that the NHS faces. This found that the NHS is currently in a critical condition and has been chronically weakened by a lack of capital investment which has lagged behind other similar countries by tens of billions of pounds.

The next stage is a plan to create a modern health service designed to meet the changing needs of our changing population. This will be co-developed with the public, staff, and patients through a detailed engagement exercise.

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Why is it important for people with a learning disability to have their say on the NHS?

People with a learning disability face shocking levels of health inequality, and Mencap say that their experiences and ideas for change need to be heard by the Westminster government during its work on the NHS 10-year plan for health services in England.

Currently, someone with a learning disability dies an average of 23 years younger than the general population. 45% of people with a learning disability said they had to push to make reasonable adjustments happen with their GP, while over half (51%) of people who said they needed communication support at the doctors did not get it.

There are multiple barriers across the healthcare system which can prevent or delay people with a learning disability from accessing the care that they need. Currently, people with a mild learning disability are at the highest risk of dying avoidably from treatable health conditions, while people with profound and multiple learning disabilities are most at risk of dying young.

Jon Sparkes OBE, Chief Executive at learning disability charity Mencap, said: “It is crucial that the NHS 10-year plan consultation is accessible for everyone, especially people with a learning disability who are disproportionally impacted by health inequalities.

“Mencap has created an easy-read version of the consultation survey to ensure the inclusion of people with a learning disability. We encourage all people in England with a learning disability to make their voice heard and fill in with their experiences and ideas for change.”

Access the survey here.

 

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Alison Bloomer
Alison Bloomer is Editor of Learning Disability Today. She has over 25 years of experience writing for medical journals and trade publications. Subjects include healthcare, pharmaceuticals, disability, insurance, stock market and emerging technologies. She is also a mother to a gorgeous 13-year-old boy who has a learning disability.

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