Learning disabilities news

An ongoing fight to raise awareness of over-medication of people with learning disabilities has been welcomed by the country’s top nurse. As it reached its first anniversary today Professor Jane Cummings spoke out in support of stop the over-medication of people with a learning disability or autism (STOMP) – a major initiative aimed at curbing […]

Patients with a learning disability, autism or both are set to benefit from over £10 million investment by NHS England to help them lead more independent lives, closer to their friends and family. The funding will support fourteen local Transforming Care Partnerships – made up of NHS organisations, local authorities and NHS England commissioners, working […]

People with a learning disability, autism or both in the North West will be supported to lead more independent lives in their communities thanks to plans given the final go ahead today, which include the closure of Calderstones (now known as Mersey Care Whalley site) – England’s last stand-alone NHS learning disability hospital. The plans […]

NHS England is today giving local areas the means to improve the lives of people with a learning disability and/or autism, including developing ways of keeping children closer to their home and families. From today, local partnerships – made up of NHS organisations, local authorities and NHS England commissioners, working closely with people who use […]

Consultation: proposed redesign of learning disability and autistic spectrum disorder services Consultation for the proposed redesign of learning disability and autistic spectrum disorder services in the North West Easy Read: Consultation for the proposed redesign of learning disability and autistic spectrum disorder services in the North West New proposals published today propose the closure of […]

As Mencap’s Learning Disability Work Experience Week kicks off, the number of NHS organisations pledging to employ more people with learning disabilities has hit 100, with NHS England calling on more trusts and hospitals to join the growing list. The pledges have already led to ten new work experience placements which will begin this week […]

National funding released to drive transformation of local services Summary plans for new and innovative care and support options published £100m in capital available to build the right support Local plans to transform care for people with a learning disability and/or autism have been published today, backed by millions of pounds of dedicated funding announced […]

New guidance launched today will support prescribing healthcare professionals to review inappropriate prescriptions for people under their care who have a learning disability and/or autism. The toolkit comes as NHS England and Rt Hon Alistair Burt MP, Minister of State for Community and Social Care, joined forces with five professional bodies and the Challenging Behaviour Foundation […]

A copy of this press release is also available in easy read. People with a learning disability are being asked to contribute to new tests which will help improve NHS services ranging from dentistry to acute care, NHS England has announced today. The NHS Quality Checkers programme sees people with a learning disability employed to […]

NHS England has today published an independent report into the deaths of people with a learning disability or mental health problem at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, and highlighted a system-wide response. The report was commissioned by NHS England (South) following the death of Connor Sparrowhawk in July 2013 in a unit in Oxford run […]