Charity concerns as NHS prepares to publish priorities for the year ahead
Charity concerns as NHS prepares to publish priorities for the year ahead
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There could be “deadly consequences” if the NHS cuts a “critical” target for patients with a learning disability, a charity has warned. Every year, health leaders in England publish national planning guidance for the NHS, which sets out the key priorities for hospitals and community services.
Last year some 32 goals were set but reports suggest that this year the number of targets could be reduced. It has been reported that the target for 75% of people with learning disabilities to receive an annual health check will be cut from the list. Learning disability charity Mencap warned that scrapping the ambition could make the life expectancy gap between people with learning disabilities and the general population “wider”.
“Reports suggesting that critical NHS goals, such as ensuring annual health checks for people with a learning disability, are at risk of being scrapped could have deadly consequences,” said Mencap chief executive Jon Sparkes. “People with a learning disability are currently dying, on average, up to 23 years earlier than the general population.
“Scrapping targets for vital interventions like annual health checks – where existing and potential health conditions can be identified and treated early on – will only make this gap wider.”. It is expected that the slimmed down set of objectives for the NHS to meet this year will be published this week, with a key focus expected to be on meeting the Prime Minister’s target on tackling England’s hospital waiting list.
