The latest Learning from Lives and Deaths – People with a Learning Disability and Autistic People (Leder) paper was published in September by King’s College London.
It analysed the deaths of 3,556 people with a learning disability from January to December 2023 and found 39% of them were classed as avoidable deaths – 18% higher than the rate for the general population.
A spokesperson for NHS England in the Midlands said there had been an improvement in care for people with a learning disability over the past few years, with a “measurable impact on health outcomes”.
They said: “Across the Midlands, GPs are working on ensuring that people with a learning disability get the reasonable adjustments they need to access healthcare including recording specific requirements and offering longer appointment slots.”