High level priorities
One of the biggest barriers stopping people with LD from accessing good quality healthcare is not being correctly identified as having a LD. Estimates suggest that only 25% of adults with LD are recorded on their GP LD register. Failure to be properly identified can lead to a) reasonable adjustments not being made e.g. easy-read information, which can result in people not accessing services such as cancer screening, and b) can result in people with LD not being invited to attend annual health checks. Both of these knock-on effects contribute to the health inequalities experienced by the LD community.
Annual audits could be carried out, at a practice level, to identify individuals with LD who are not on the GP LD register.
Annual health checks
There should be a drive to increase the percentage of people with LD who attend for their annual health check. Part of that includes ensuring people are correctly registered and therefore receive invitations. However, even then, recent data suggests that only 60% of those registered attended for an annual health check. Ensuring people with LD attend their annual health checks will ultimately mean better detection of preventable/treatable diseases and ensure appropriate referrals are made to support individuals. This is much needed as people with LD are three times more likely to die from a preventable cause compared to the average person. Such action would hopefully reduce the health gap between those with LD and the general population.
An initial target could be considered, ensuring at least 75% of people with LD receive an annual health check each year, in line with the target set out in the NHS Long Term Plan.
Employment opportunities
Paid work for those with LD, as indeed anyone, can provide a sense of purpose, important social opportunities, and financial reward. Despite a majority of people with LD wanting to work, only a quarter are in some form of employment, the majority of which are working fewer than 16 hours a week. The employment figures are even lower for those requiring long term support and have fallen significantly over the last 5 years in North Tyneside. Improving both the number of people with LD in employment and the hours of those already in employment, would likely improve individuals’ overall health and wellbeing. There is also evidence to suggest it could be a cost-effective approach for local authorities via reducing the costs of day care provision.
Unpaid carer support
From a local commissioning perspective, it is important to ensure there is adequate support for unpaid carers. There are very high rates of burnout and carer distress when it comes to looking after an individual/s with LD. Carer burnout can negatively impact their own health and wellbeing to a point where they can’t cope anymore, meaning the responsibility and costs of care are transferred to local health and social care providers. In such instances, there is a net cost-benefit to ensuring unpaid carers receive adequate support.