More than half of adults in England living with learning disabilities die before reaching the age of 65, according to a new report that has prompted urgent calls for action from charities and government acknowledgement of the “stark” statistics. The Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR), commissioned by NHS England, examined deaths recorded between 2021 and 2024, revealing that individuals with learning disabilities die, on average, 19 years younger than the general population. For comparison, only 15% of the general population dies before 65.
The report, compiled by King's College London, also highlighted a decline in avoidable deaths – those resulting from treatable conditions such as pneumonia or epilepsy – from 46% in 2021 to 39% in 2024. Despite this improvement, the proportion of avoidable deaths among people with learning disabilities remains almost double that of the general adult population. Learning disability group Staying Alive and Well described the findings as “headline news,” stating that “far too many people with a learning disability are still dying too young.” The group emphasised that individuals with learning disabilities often feel “discriminated against or not taken seriously” when seeking healthcare.
Responding to the report, a government spokesperson affirmed that “significant action” is underway to improve care, with ministers pledging to “do all we can for people with a learning disability and autistic people.” Health Minister Preet Kaur Gill, in a written ministerial statement, acknowledged the “unacceptable” statistics and reassured the public that the government is “committed to improving outcomes” through early intervention and enhanced training for healthcare professionals. This training aims to improve the identification of people with a learning disability on GP registers and ensure they attend essential health checks.
However, concerns have been raised regarding the future of the LeDeR review itself. The government has confirmed that Monday's publication will be the final LeDeR report in its current format, with future data collection integrated into broader health outcome recording for people with autism and ADHD in England. Jon Sparkes OBE, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, voiced his apprehension that this change could lead to the issue becoming “deprioritised.” He stressed that this is “literally a matter of life and death” and urged the government to clarify how it will maintain independent scrutiny and address the causes of avoidable deaths.
Further compounding the challenges, the Royal College of Nurses previously reported a 44% reduction in the number of specialist nurses working with patients who have learning disabilities or autism over the past decade, falling from 7,000 to 4,500. This year, only 500 new recruits were taken on to specialise in this critical area. NHS England has announced plans to implement a “reasonable adjustment digital flag” for all disabled people, aiming to ensure that necessary adjustments are consistently recorded in their health records.