The number of people with learning disabilities who have died in care has rocketed during the coronavirus pandemic.
New figures from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) show that deaths more than doubled compared to a year ago.
Up to 386 people, some of whom may also be autistic, died between 10 April and 15 May.
Kate Terroni, CQC’s chief inspector of adult social care, says authorities should consider the vulnerability of people with learning disabilities in decisions on testing
For the same period last year, 165 people died.
Impact ‘felt at a younger age’
Kate Terroni is the CQC’s chief inspector of adult social care.
She said the figures show “the impact on this group of people is being felt at a younger age”.
Terroni said the increased vulnerability is “something that should be considered in decisions on testing”.
Asking for a test
Under Government rules anyone in England and Wales who shows symptoms may ask for a test.
But key workers get priority.
Also, anyone over five years old in the UK who lives with a key worker showing symptoms gets priority.
In addition, children under five in England and Wales showing symptoms can have a test if they live with a key worker.
Learning disabled don’t qualify
In contrast, people with learning disabilities in care do not automatically qualify.
Of the 386 people with learning disabilities who died, 206 had suspected or confirmed Covid-19 infection.
Mencap chief executive Edel Harris accused the UK government of “putting people with a learning disability at risk by not giving them priority testing”.
Learning disabled ‘forgotten’
Harris said people with learning disabilities “continue to be forgotten”.
Activists Dr George Julian, Simone Aspis, Mark Neary and Dr Sara Ryan have launched a CrowdJustice page calling for “accurate and reliable” figures. They call their campaign Every Death Counts.
Julian said she and her fellow campaigners are still deciding on their next move.
The Department of Health and Social Care said they are working to improve their understanding of how the virus affects different groups, including those with autism and learning disabilities.
Click here to visit the Every Death Counts CrowdJustice page.
Related:
- Activists demand virus death figures
- At high risk of death, but denied tests
- Fightback against virus law care cuts
- Disabled launch legal fight to buy food
- Keep seeking medical help, doctor urges
- Families fight virus clampdown
- We can’t get food we need, say parents
- Councils ‘free to abandon disabled’
- Coronavirus may decimate services
Published: 5 June 2020
