Health inequalities

Summaries of specific health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities. These include:

• evidence on prevalence and risk factors
• impact on people with learning disabilities
• healthcare and treatment
• social determinants
• signposting to resources

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Additional reports

Reasonable adjustments

A series of guidance sharing information, ideas and good practice in making reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities in specific health service areas.

Use of psychotropic medication

In 2014, PHE’s report (now archived but still viewable) about the extent of prescribing of psychotropic medication to people with learning disabilities, autism or both led to NHS England launching the STOMP campaign to reduce over-medication. In 2019, a study was published that described a system to track prescribing of antipsychotics, antidepressants and other psychotropics for people with learning disabilities, autism or both.

Autism self-assessment framework

Reports presenting the findings from the fourth and fifth autism self-assessment exercises carried out by local authorities (LAs) in 2016 and 2018. They show local authorities’ progress towards meeting the requirements of the Autism Act. For older reports and other resources see the archived Learning Disability Observatory’s Improving Health and Lives (IHAL) website.

Information for social care workers and providers

Guidance for social care staff on how to help people with learning disabilities get better access to medical services to improve their health, and how providers can sign up to the health charter to demonstrate their commitment to doing this.