Responding to the HSSIB report, RCN Professional Lead for Learning Disability Nursing, Jonathan Beebee, said:
“The double-edge sword of a lack of learning disability nursing staff and national guidance on service standards has created an unacceptable level of care. People with learning disabilities are being denied the quality specialist support they deserve.
“Since 2009, the number of learning disability nurses working in the NHS in England has fallen by nearly half. Coupled with the absence of standard models for learning disability care, the result is a postcode lottery of care. Everyone should expect the same high quality services wherever they live.
“The government must act now on these report findings. It must invest in the nursing workforce to address the decline in learning disability nurses and widespread inconsistency in care.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
According to the latest NHS England Workforce data, there are now 2,968 full-time equivalent learning disability nurses working in the NHS in July 2023. This is down 46.6% since September 2009, when the number of full-time equivalent learning disability nurses working in the NHS was 5,553.
