Risk increase due to shortage of learning disability nurses

The number of learning disability nurses working in NHS hospital and community services in England has risen by just 22 in three years.

A new report from the Royal College of Nursing has revealed that in 2018, the number hit a record low of 3,192 – a fall of 40 per cent in less than a decade. Since then, it has risen to 3,214 – an increase of just 22 full-time equivalent posts in the NHS.

The college is calling for a dedicated learning disabilities minister or commissioner in each of the four nations to protect the care and rights of patients with learning disabilities and accurate data about the learning disabilities nursing workforce to aid recruitment and retention. The RCN is also demanding adequate funding for learning disability services provided in social care, more funding for the education and training of learning disability specialist nurses and a strategy to prevent the reoccurrence of the abuse experienced by people with learning disabilities in the past.

Jonathan Beebee, RCN Professional Lead for Learning Disability Nursing, said: “It’s scandalous that in this day and age people with learning disabilities are still dying on average 25 years sooner than the general population. Specialist care can transform their lives. Investment is much needed to encourage people to train as a nurse and take the career path into learning disability nursing.”