PHA delegates pledge to reduce inequalities for people with learning disabilities

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has called for urgent improvement of clinical care and reduction of health inequalities for people with a learning disability in Northern Ireland.

Speaking at the ‘Dying for Change’ conference, organised by the Public Health Agency (PHA), he said that people with a learning disability in Northern Ireland need a fully accessible general healthcare system underpinned by reasonable adjustments and the strategic deployment of specialist staff, such as learning disability nurses.

He said: “One of my key areas of focus since I became Health Minister is working to address health inequalities. We must focus on those people within our communities who disproportionately experience the highest rates of ill health, that includes people with learning disabilities.

 “What is clear for this population is that we do not need a specialist healthcare system. We need a fully accessible general healthcare system. To my mind, we require a whole system approach. If we get it right for people with a learning disability, we will get it right for everyone.”

Whole system approach to address inequalities

The conference, which took place at Riddel Hall Belfast, was for policymakers, academics, and professionals from across health and social care and focused on what needs to be urgently improved in the care of people with learning disabilities.

All individuals in attendance were asked what they could do within their organisation and as part of a whole system approach to address the inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities and then shared that pledge for the future.

There are approximately 40,000 people with a learning disability living in Northern Ireland. Research shows that, on average, men with a learning disability die 23 years younger, and women die 27 years younger when compared with the rest of the population.

Heather Reid, Interim Director of Nursing, Midwifery and AHPs at the PHA, also spoke at the conference and said that everyone has a right to equal access to healthcare and equal treatment across all areas of their lives. People with a learning disability receive care from a wide range of health and social care services, but often experience challenges accessing these.

She added: “People with a learning disability can often require different support to help them stay healthy and live well, but unfortunately, too often they experience large disparities across services compared with the rest of the population.

“Poor quality or missed healthcare causes health inequalities and avoidable deaths. People with a learning disability can often experience delayed diagnosis and treatment because of factors such as lack of reasonable adjustments, diagnostic overshadowing, and lack of appropriate training for clinical staff.

“There is an urgent need for greater awareness and understanding across all of health and social care in Northern Ireland of the specific needs of people with a learning disability and specific risk factors that are contributing to premature and avoidable deaths.”