Mencap responds to the Care Quality Commission’s report, Who I am Matters – A report into the experiences of being in hospital for people with a learning disability and autistic people

The Care Quality Commission (CQC)’s new report into the experiences of being in hospital for people with a learning disability and autistic people was released today. The link to the report is here. Below is Mencap’s response.

Jackie O’Sullivan, Director of communication, advocacy and activism at learning disability charity Mencap, said:  “The Care Quality Commission (CQC)’s investigation shows that people with a learning disability and autism are still not getting the health and care support they need.

“The recent Learning from Lives and Deaths (LeDeR) report set out the devastating health inequalities and barriers to healthcare that face people with a learning disability, resulting in a life expectancy over 20 years shorter than the general population. This is shocking, and simply unacceptable in 2022.

“The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training in Learning Disability and Autism will save lives and transform attitudes and practice among health and care professionals. Mencap is proud to have delivered pilots of the training to thousands of health and care staff, and to be working with Health Education England on the national rollout of the training. The 1.5 million people across the UK with a learning disability have the right to care that meets their needs and supports them to live happy and healthy lives.”