People with Learning Disabilities: Acute Illness

Lord Kamall Excerpts

Monday 20th July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

There are a number of aspects to that area. We have greatly increased the mandatory training requirement and the numbers who have been trained. The noble Baroness also points to the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. We have seen an increase in nursing staff in that regard. It is a matter for the local provider to decide, but the workforce plan, which we will be seeing soon, will be very helpful in this regard.

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

My Lords, the report identifies significant variation in the recognition and treatment of acute illness among people with learning disabilities. The Minister talked about guidance, but could she be more specific? What specific help does her department aim to give to those areas, trusts or ICBs deemed to be underperforming? Given the new Prime Minister’s pledge on further devolution, how will the department resolve that tension between local decision-making and central government intervention, especially in underperforming areas?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

That is the reason for the accountability measures that I have outlined. I should add that transparency is absolutely key to that. The guidance that we have issued about supporting the identification of people with learning disability is important; we are at that basic level. That is where we have started, but it will push this forward. Further to my answer to the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, the guidance for acute hospital staff, for example, included standardised mental capacity assessment forms; they were not in place previously. Each ICB is required, via statutory guidance, to have an executive lead on learning disability and autism.