Pandemic ‘numbers game’ is not fair

Throughout the pandemic there have been systemic failures to respond adequately to the realities and experiences of many disabled adults. Our research shows that 76 per cent feel that, compared to other people, they do not matter.

Smaller, specialist care homes and supported living environments have consistently been deprioritised or overlooked in the Department for Health and Social Care’s response. Consequently, so have the social care providers supporting people who have a learning disability and autism, with response measures such as testing implemented months later than elsewhere.

This “numbers game” is not fair. All people deserve to be held in the same regard, and should be empowered to have a say in decisions that impact them and those they support. This would go some way to finally reflect the diversity of services and the fact that settings differ in terms of risk and needs.

Going forward, official guidance must be produced in accessible formats simultaneously, so everyone can understand their rights and the restrictions they’re facing at the same time, to avoid them being further disadvantaged by the system.

The pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing health inequalities faced by people with learning disabilities and autism. It is now crucial for primary care to prioritise learning disability health provisions, most importantly annual health checks, to avoid a long-term worsening of health inequalities and a further widening of the mortality gap.