Working in the care setting since i was 18 years old and still to this day having to witness the lack of understanding from NHS staff and Ambulance crews.  All NHS staff should receive mandatory, advanced training on how to support people with learning disabilities, including communication skills, sensory needs, behavior, trauma-informed care, and legal responsibilities.

Hospitals and ambulance services must provide adjustments such as accessible communication, quiet waiting spaces, longer appointments, and specialist support when needed.

Every hospital should have a fully staffed Learning Disability Liaison Team to support patients, families, and clinicians.

Hospitals should publicly report how they are meeting the needs of people with learning disabilities, including training rates, use of reasonable adjustments, and compliance with the Mental Capacity Act.

People with learning disabilities should have immediate access to a specialist advocate during hospital admissions or emergency care, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

This distressing reality, unfortunately, is not unique to just one family or care team. Across the UK, countless individuals with learning disabilities are marginalized and face significant health inequalities. Data from NHS Digital and Mencap highlights that people with learning disabilities are three times more likely to die from a condition that could have been managed with proper care than the general population. [Source: https://www.nhsdigital.nhs.uk/​ https://www.mencap.org.uk/

Furthermore, these individuals experience inconsistent communication and frequently encounter a lack of reasonable adjustments during their time in hospitals and while using ambulance services. Such barriers result in delays in treatment and avoidable harm, conditions that can be potentially life-threatening.
We are calling on the UK Government and the House of Lords to swiftly introduce comprehensive reforms aimed specifically at eliminating these disparities. These reforms should focus on mandatory training for all healthcare providers about the specific needs and rights of individuals with learning disabilities.

Moreover, we urge the implementation of stringent policies that ensure the adherence to established guidelines, like the RESPECT framework. Ensuring that every patient's wishes and needs are respected and followed should be non-negotiable.

Creating an oversight body dedicated to reviewing compliance with these guidelines will help enforce accountability and lead to systemic improvements within the NHS.

People with learning disabilities are dying younger and more often from avoidable causes. Families frequently have to fight to get basic care, and many patients are not understood, listened to, or treated with dignity.

Everyone deserves equal access to safe healthcare. With the right laws, training, and accountability, many of these tragedies can be prevented.

By signing this petition, you're standing with us to enforce vital changes that will affix respect, equality, and safety at the core of all healthcare services for people with learning disabilities. Together, we can advocate for a healthcare system that is equitable, inclusive, and just for all its users. Please help us in this crucial mission by signing the petition. Our voices can lead to impactful transformations.