Learning Disability Today
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A three-year plan focused on prevention, independence, and community care has been launched to transform support for people with learning disabilities and autism in Birmingham and Solihull.
The strategy sets out 10 key areas for action, with a central ambition to reduce avoidable hospital admissions and enhance preventive services, enabling individuals to live longer, healthier, and more independent lives.
Key priorities include improving access to high-quality community support, strengthening early intervention and prevention, reducing reliance on inpatient services, and improving coordination across health and social care systems.
The plan is led by the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Provider Collaborative and brings together partners from the NHS, social care, and the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sectors.
The partnership says it wants to break down traditional organisational silos, enabling more integrated and person-centred care delivery across the region, and shift the balance away from crisis-driven interventions toward sustainable, long-term support models.
There is also a shared commitment to working more closely with people with lived experience, ensuring their voices directly shape services.
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Annual health check and learning disabilities
A key element of the plan is maintaining accurate GP registers to ensure individuals can access annual health checks and preventive interventions. This aims to tackle health inequalities and improve early detection of physical and mental health conditions.
Richard Kirby, Chief Executive of Birmingham Community Healthcare and Senior Responsible Officer for Learning Disabilities and Autism across Birmingham and Solihull, said: “People with a learning disability and autistic people have the same right as anyone else to live independent, fulfilling lives. The difference is ensuring they have the right care and support to make this a reality.
“This plan sets out how we will work together across health and social care, the NHS and the voluntary sector to deliver that support.
“From maintaining accurate GP registers so people can access annual health checks, to reducing reliance on inpatient care, our commitment is clear. We will work with and for people with a learning disability and autistic people to ensure they receive a fair deal and are supported to live healthy, happy lives.”
