15 March 2024
The RCSLT joined with NHS England to chair a webinar on LeDeR (Learning from the lives and deaths – people with a learning disability and autistic people) and the reasonable adjustment digital flag.
People with a learning disability and their families face increased health and social inequalities. The consequences are significant and can include premature mortality, increased ill health and lower quality of life. The RCSLT were keen to show how allied health professionals can make a difference to improving the lives of people with a learning disability and autistic people.
At this webinar, NHS England shared the latest LeDeR data which showed a small positive improvement to the median age of death for people with a learning disability. Whilst the age of death was increasing, people are still dying too early, decades earlier than the general population. The data also showed that many of these deaths were avoidable.
Allied health professionals were told how they can make a difference, coordinating care, improving communication and better managing the long-term conditions of people with a learning disability.
NHS England also shared their reasonable adjustments digital flag which is being introduced from April. This is a visible marker on the person’s health records, which shows what reasonable adjustments a person needs to maximise engagement, involvement and inclusion.
