Major programme launches across Essex for resident with learning disability

Health and social care staff across the county have joined together to improve the life chances of people in Essex with a learning disability

NHS England has nationally commissioned the Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) programme to understand the circumstances leading to each death. The LeDeR programme was launched across Essex on Friday 1 September 2017, which will ensure a local review is held each time a resident with a learning disability dies. People with a learning disability are four times as likely to die of preventable causes compared with the general population.

Matt Rangué, Chief Nurse at NHS Southend Clinical Commissioning Group and chair of the Essex LeDeR programme, said: “These reviews are going to be extremely powerful as they will help professionals see whether such deaths could potentially be avoided in the future through improvements to health and care services. I also hope families and friends who have recently been bereaved will have more confidence that health and social care staff are working together to review what happened and see if anything could and should be changed in the future.”

The death of someone in Essex with a learning disability can be reported through a confidential phone line or an online form as follows:

Call: 0300 777 4774 (call charged at local rates)
Web: University of Bristol 

Matt continued: “It is important to note that anyone can report the death of someone with a learning disability whether that be a professional such as a GP or social worker, or a family member, friend or work colleague. The important thing is that it is reported. I am extremely pleased with the very positive reaction from professionals across Essex from many different specialisms who have come together to develop this important project across the county. We hope this will make a significant difference to the health and wellbeing of people across Essex with a learning disability.”