Learning disability

A learning disability affects the way a person learns new things throughout their life. It is different for everyone who is diagnosed, lots of people with a learning disability can gain qualifications, work, have relationships and live alone. Other people might need more support throughout their life. 

To read more on what a learning disability is, click this link here: Learning disabilities - NHS

• The number of people with a learning disability in West Wales is expected to stay about the same.
• The number of people with severe or complex learning disabilities is expected to grow by about 1.8% each year.
• The number of older people with a learning disability is set to increase.
• People with a Learning Disability often have other conditions, such as:
  • Autism
  • Physical disabilities
  • Sensory or communication difficulties
• They are more likely to have poor physical and mental health and multiple health problems.

These issues are often linked to:

• • Poor diet
  • Low physical activity
  • Smoking and alcohol use
  • Difficulty accessing preventative health services
• People with a learning disability worked with partners through the Regional Improving Lives Partnership to create the West Wales Learning Disability Charter.

The charter is a simple list of what those living with a learning disability need to live fulfilling lives.

It is supported by:

• • Welsh Government
  • Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire County Councils
  • Hywel Dda University Health Board
  • Community and third-sector organisations

To read more about the Charter, click the link here: https://www.ldcharter.com/my-life-my-rights/

The figures below display the 2022 count of individuals diagnosed with a learning disability living in local authority-funded accommodation such as care homes, independent living and those living in housing association properties[NU1] across the West Wales regions. These numbers provide a baseline for understanding the scale of the population group in each area:

• Carmarthenshire: 329
• Pembrokeshire: 450
• Ceredigion: 382
• For a further breakdown of information, click the link here: Persons with learning disabilities by local authority, service and age range.

Annual Health Checks

An annual health check is a free NHS appointment for people with a learning disability. It gives them a full review of their physical and mental health, including checks like weight, blood pressure, and medication. These checks are important because people with learning disabilities often have more health problems and can find it harder to access regular care. The aim is to spot issues early and improve overall wellbeing.

What we know about annual health checks in Wales:

• Before the pandemic, between 30% and 60% of people with a learning disability had an annual health check.
• During the pandemic, between September 2020 and March 2021 just 40% of respondents had a health check. (read more on the importance of Annual Health Checks (AHC) for people with a learning disability here: The importance of Annual Health Checks (AHC) for people with a learning disability. - Improvement Cymru)
• In Wales there are people who are Health Check Champions, they help more people with learning disabilities (aged 14+) get their annual health checks. They work with GP practices to make adjustments like easy-read materials and longer appointments, raise awareness among families and carers, and use tools such as the Once for Wales Health Profile to make checks clear, accessible, and person-focused. (Read more on Once for Wales Health Profile here How the Once for Wales Health Profile helps improve consistency, safety and timeliness of healthcare for people with learning disabilities, by Paula Phillips, Senior Improvement Manager - Improvement Cymru)

Understanding death rates for people with learning disabilities in Wales

• People with a learning disability have worse health than people without a learning disability and are more likely to experience a number of health conditions.
• Adults with a learning disability on average die 19.5 years younger than the general population.
• Around 39% of deaths in people with learning disabilities are considered avoidable with good healthcare, compared to 9% in the general population.
• Read more on Mencap's website here: mencap.org.uk/health-inequalities

Summary from a Welsh Government Report:

A report by NHS Wales provided the first ever Overview of Mortality amongst People with a Learning Disability in Wales (2012-2022).

Mortality means the number of deaths in a group of people over a certain period of time.

The report shows big health gaps and calls for urgent, focused action:

Median Age of Death:

• Median means the middle value when all ages are listed in order.
• For people with a learning disability, the median age of death is 65 (half die younger, half die older).
• The most common age of death is 67.
• In comparison, the average life expectancy in Wales is about 79 years for men and 82 years for women.
• This shows that people with a learning disability die much younger than the general population.

Cause of Death

• Total deaths: 3,299 (2012–2022).
• Most common cause was a wide range of causes (895 deaths) (classified as “Other”)

• Next most common causes:
  • Cancer and other tumours (507)
  • Respiratory infections (499)
• These three categories together account for 73% of all deaths.

Increase in individuals diagnosed with a Learning Disability

• The report shows an increase in the number of people in the data set between 2012 and 2022.
• In 2012, there were 9,659 people identified.
• By 2022, that number had doubled.

Find out more on the mortality amongst people with a learning disability report on the link here: Mortality amongst people with a learning disability | GOV.WALES

This section explores the current service provision in health and social care services and support.

Statutory Care and Support Provision

A range of care and support services are in place across West Wales to support adults with LD to live fulfilled lives within the community.

Community Team Learning Disabilities (CTLD)

There are four Community Team Learning Disabilities (CTLD) Services across Hywel Dda for adults with learning disabilities. The CTLD are for people who have profound and multiple learning disabilities, often with challenging behaviour, or with mental health issues, or additional physical health needs.

In the CTLD there are:

• Learning Disability Nurses – Support health needs, give advice, and help people stay healthy.
• Occupational Therapist – Helps people with daily activities like cooking, dressing, and using equipment.
• Physiotherapist – Helps with movement, exercise, and physical health.
• Speech and Language Therapist – Supports communication and swallowing difficulties.
• Psychologist – Helps with thoughts, feelings, and behaviour through therapy and assessments.
• Psychiatrist – A doctor who treats mental health problems and can prescribe medication.
• Behaviour Practitioners – Help manage challenging behaviour and teach positive strategies.
• Social Workers – Support with care plans, housing, benefits, and safeguarding.

The CTLD can:

• Give specialist help for people with complex or challenging needs.
• Support access to health services and stay healthy.

• Work on projects to reduce health inequalities for people with learning disabilities.

Read more about the CTLD here: Learning disabilities service - Hywel Dda University Health Board

Regional LD Employment and training project

The Communities for Work Plus (CfW+) is a Welsh Government community-based employability programme is a run in partnership with all local authorities in West Wales. The programme is delivered through employability mentors based in community venues across Wales.

Read more on the scheme on the link here: Communities for Work Plus (CfW+) programme | GOV.WALES

A third sector in Pembrokeshire offer the supported employment programme, which is a group of local authority-based enterprises that employs over 75 people with a disability or work limiting health condition. As well as offering paid supported employment, it also offers work experience, training and a work-based day opportunities to a further approximately 75 people each week.

Read more about the scheme on the link here: Pembrokeshire Supported Employment Programme - Pembrokeshire County Council

Third Sector Provision

Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire People First Organisations

There is a Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire People First, both are independent charities run for and by people with learning disabilities and/or autism, both organisations run groups and safe spaces for adults with learning disabilities and autism.

Read more about Carmarthenshire People First on the link here: Home | Carmarthenshire People First

Read more about Pembrokeshire People First on the link here: Pembrokeshire People First (PPF)

Our Voice Our Choice

Our voice, our choice are based in Ceredigion and is a self-advocacy group set up for people with learning disabilities.

Read more here on the link here: Our Voice Our Choice | Newcastle Emlyn | Facebook

Clynfyw Care Farm is a Community Interest Company.

Clynfyw Care Farm supports disabled and vulnerable people using numerous meaningful projects as tools for learning. It offers a day centre, respite and a mental health recovery centre.

Read more about what Clynfyw Care Farm do on the link here: What We Do | Clynfyw Care Farm

Dream Team

The Dream Team is made up of members from CPF, PPF and Our voice Our Choice. Every member of the dream team has a diagnosis of a learning disability, autism or a cognitive difference. The Dream Team work with the health board and the county councils in West Wales to work on projects that change how care and support are delivered in our community.

Their moto is ‘nothing about us, without us’.

Read more about the Dream Team on the link here: The Dream Team! | Facebook

Read more on the action plan on the link here:  Learning disability strategic action plan 2022 to 2026 | GOV.WALES

Read more on the delivery and implementation plan on the link here: Learning disability delivery and implementation plan 2022 to 2026 | GOV.WALES

This population needs assessment was coproduced with the Dream Team.

How the Pandemic Affected Support Services:

Reports from Learning Disability Wales and its partners show that the pandemic caused many important services to stop or run less often. This meant that people had less access to day services and short‑break care.

Because of this, many people felt more anxious, became lonelier, and families had to take on much more caring responsibility.

More information can be found on the link here: The Impact of the Covid-19 Outbreak on People with a Learning Disability in Wales - Learning Disability Wales

How the Welsh Government Responded:

A Welsh Government report explained how it planned to deal with these problems. It said it would work to reduce loneliness, make services easier to reach, and make sure information is clear and accessible for everyone with a disability.

For people with a disability, the pandemic was not just a health problem. It also caused big social problems that have had a lasting effect on their well‑being and the support they can get.

More information can be found on the link here: Supporting disabled people after COVID-19: How COVID-19 has affected disabled people in Wales and what Welsh Government are doing to support them.

COVID‑19 Risks for People with Disabilities:

In February 2024, Disability Wales shared information at the UK COVID‑19 Inquiry. They said that 68% of all people who died from COVID‑19 in Wales were disabled. They also explained that people with a learning disability were between 3 and 8 times more likely to die from the virus than people who were not disabled, when age was not taken into account.

More information can be found on the link here: Press Release: Disability Wales & Disability Rights UK cite “mass death and real suffering” of Disabled people in Wales at UK Covid-19 Inquiry - Disability Wales