By Sheila Mckenzie-
Covid-19 victims who have learning disability are being forgotten and left behind in the current crisis, according to campaigners.
Nearly 500 people with a learning disability have died from coronavirus since the start of the outbreak, new data shows.
NHS England have revealed that 1,029 people with a learning disability died in England between March 16 and May 10, with 45.4% (467) reported to The Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) linked to coronavirus.
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However, campaigners feel Covid-19 victims will learning disability are not being recognised or given much attention, and are keen to raise awareness of their deaths and sufferings.
Learning disabilities charity Mencap said the number of deaths of those with learning disabilities is a higher percentage than the proportion of COVID-19-related deaths in care homes, at 31.1%.
Mencap warned that people with a learning disability are dying at a faster rate than usual.
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Edel Harris, chief executive of Mencap, said:
“We are deeply troubled by the latest LeDeR data which shows that people with a learning disability are dying at double the rate than in previous years. Almost half of deaths of people with a learning disability notified to LeDeR were COVID-19-related – higher than the proportion of COVID-19-related deaths in care homes – yet people with a learning disability continue to be forgotten in this crisis.
Over the last few months we have repeatedly challenged discriminatory healthcare guidance and practice and continue to support people with a learning disability and their families to access the treatment and support they have a right to.
That’s why it is more important now than ever that the Government and NHS urgently complete a timely, full and accurate assessment of COVID-19-related deaths of people with a learning disability across all settings so that steps can be taken to address any potentially discriminatory practice now.”
Earlier this week, care groups called for greater clarity on how the coronavirus is impacting people with a learning disability and/or autism after the CQC reported a 175% rise in deaths.
Figures released by the CQC, in response to a BBC request, revealed that the provisional number of deaths across all settings where people with a learning disability and/or autism increased by 2,395 to 3,765 from 1,370 in the same year-earlier period.
Dr Rhidian Hughes, chief executive of the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) told The Eye Of Media.Com that the government must be more inclusive of all groups using social care services, including people with a learning disability.
“It is dismaying that the government’s response continues to overlook social care in its entirety – particularly the needs, rights and entitlements of disabled people. We cannot continue to have a situation whereby disability services are continually neglected from government’s policy responses,” he added.
“Every death must count and we continue to call for the open and transparent release of data on the deaths of people with a learning disability from COVID-19. We must measure all lives lost. It’s only through the consistent routine reporting and publication of data that the necessary intelligence to help inform current and future service responses can be achieved.”
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