LDN London responds to LeDeR health report

LDN London is deeply concerned, although sadly not surprised, by the latest LeDeR findings.

The LeDeR (Learning from Lives and Deaths) report is about the health of people with learning disabilities. It shows important statistics about how long people live, and the reasons for people’s deaths. 

The latest report shows that more than half of adults with learning disabilities die before the age of 65.

People with learning disabilities die on average 19 years earlier than the general population.

What is even more concerning is that 39% of deaths were considered avoidable. Although this has fallen from 46% in 2021, it is double the rate for the general adult population.

The research – which you can read by clicking here – was done by King’s College London, University of Lancashire and Kingston University.

LDN London CEO Gabby Machell responded to the report: “These are not just statistics but real people. People whose lives could have been longer if there had been an earlier recognition of illness, timely diagnosis, the right treatment and reasonable adjustments.

People with learning disabilities continue to experience diagnostic overshadowing, delays, inaccessible communication and failures to listen to them, or the people who know them best (including families or social care staff).

We are particularly concerned that this will be the final LeDeR report in its current form. Future arrangements must keep transparent reporting, independent scrutiny and clear accountability for why people died and what must change.

Health and social care professionals must work together, share information and act promptly. Reasonable adjustments must be part of everyday healthcare, and concerns raised by each person, their family or support staff must be taken seriously.

Every avoidable death represents a person whose life mattered. Dying early from a treatable or preventable condition must never be accepted as an inevitable consequence of having a learning disability.”