This is twice as common compared to people without learning disabilities (25.6%). The review found that bronchial pneumonia is the most common cause of respiratory death. 

Research shows that adults with learning disabilities face numerous barriers to managing long-term conditions. They often experience multiple long-term conditions that may interact with each other and complicate their management, particularly if people require polypharmaceutical interventions.

Identification and diagnosis can also be delayed for many reasons, including: 

• people being unable to describe symptoms due to communication needs 
• symptoms being experienced differently due to neurological differences 
• diagnostic overshadowing 
• atypical presentations 
• experiencing difficulties in attending health settings, due to the person’s environmental needs and if the persons actions cause concern. 

These resources offer guidance and support for people with learning disabilities and those who care for or work with them. Where possible, links are UK-based and region-specific.

UK-wide

Diabetes

• Diabetes UK. How to Make Reasonable Adjustments to Diabetes Care for Adults with a Learning Disability (PDF).
• Diabetes UK. Improving Care for People with Diabetes and a Learning Disability.

Dementia

• British Psychological Society: Dementia and People with Intellectual Disabilities.

Epilepsy

• Epilepsy Action. Epilepsy Training for Primary Care Nurses.
• Epilepsy Action. Learning Disabilities.
• Epilepsy Society. Learning Disabilities.

Flu and COVID-19

• NHS. COVID-19 vaccination.
• NHS. Easy-read flu vaccination resources.

Pain

• NHS. Disability Distress Assessment Tool (DisDAT) (PDF).
• Nursing Times. Identifying Pain in People Who Have Complex Communication Needs.
• RCN. Learning Disability Pain Assessment Resource.
• Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale. Instructions for use. 

Toolkits and general health

• GOV.UK. Learning Disability: Applying All Our Health.
• Learning Disability England. Health resources.
• NHS England. Clinical Guide for Frontline Staff.
• Royal College of Emergency Medicine. Learning Disabilities Toolkit (PDF).
• SUDEP Action. Seizure Safety Checklist.

England

• Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. How Do I Look After My COPD?
• Mencap. Help with your mental health and wellbeing.
• NHS England. Annual health checks.
• Royal College of Physicians. Acute Care Toolkit 16 (PDF).

Wales

• Improvement Cymru. A Fairer Future.
• Learning Disability Wales. Resources.
• Welsh Government. Learning Disability Delivery Plan 2022–2026.

Scotland

• ENABLE Scotland.
• NHS Education for Scotland. Learning Disability Hub.
• Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD).

Northern Ireland

• ARC NI. Health Inequalities.
• Department of Health. Learning Disability Service Model.
• Mencap Northern Ireland.

The LeDeR report (2020) identified that sepsis was one of the top 6 leading causes of death for people with learning disabilities and that carers needed help, support and training to be able to recognise when someone is acutely deteriorating.

Knowing what the normal presentation for each individual is, and having an accurate baseline of physical observations for them is crucial. 

Some carers may benefit from being able to recognise the ‘soft signs’ when people are unwell or deteriorating. The Restore 2 ‘mini’ tool may be helpful for carers and families.  

UK-wide

• NHS Learning Hub. Sepsis in People with a Learning Disability. Free online training for carers to recognise signs of sepsis and understand risks for people with learning disabilities.
• UK Sepsis Trust. Sepsis for Learning Disability Care Workers. Practical guidance and awareness materials tailored for care workers.
• NHS e-Learning for Healthcare. Sepsis Awareness Programme. Includes  modules on recognising and managing sepsis in community and acute settings, with content relevant to learning disability care.
• University of Bristol: Briefings for Carers. Signs That a Person Is Becoming Unwell (PDF). A helpful guide for carers to spot early signs of deterioration.

England

• Sherwood Forest Hospitals. Sepsis information for paid carers/professionals (Video). A video resource developed with learning disability nurses to support carers in spotting sepsis.
• Restore2 Mini Tool: West Hampshire CCG. A simplified early warning tool for carers to track soft signs of deterioration.

Wales

• Learning Disability Wales: Resources Directory. Includes accessible health information and care planning tools.
• Public Health Wales: Learning Disabilities Care Bundle. Guidance for improving hospital care, including early recognition of deterioration (PDF).

Scotland

• Scottish Sepsis Awareness Presentation. Raising Awareness of the Signs and Symptoms of Sepsis in people with a Learning Disability (PDF). Highlights risks, signs, and diagnostic challenges specific to people with learning disabilities.
• NHS Education for Scotland. Learning Disability Drivers Resources. Includes tools like “3 Things About Me” to support communication and early recognition.

Northern Ireland

• Mencap Northern Ireland. Services and campaigns. Offers advocacy and support services, including health awareness initiatives.
• South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust. Learning Disability Services. Includes community nursing and health facilitation for early detection and annual health checks.

Some individuals with a learning disability are more at risk of constipation than the general population. Constipation is one of the five most common long-term health conditions reported in completed LeDeR reviews (23%) and a third of these reviews mention the prescription of laxatives.

This is an important area to explore carefully when undertaking an annual health check, where constipation management should be reviewed to ensure it is being managed appropriately.  

Further information

UK-wide

• GOV.UK. Constipation. Making Reasonable Adjustments. Guidance for health professionals, social care staff and carers on managing constipation in people with learning disabilities.
• NHS England. Constipation and People with a Learning Disability. Includes leaflets, posters, animations and the Bristol Stool Chart, co-created with people with lived experience.
• NHS England. Constipation campaign toolkit. A toolkit for carers and primary care teams to raise awareness and support early intervention.
• University of Bristol. Infection - Sepsis (PDF). Includes guidance on recognising early signs of deterioration, including constipation.
• UK Health and Learning Disabilities Network. Resources for carers, professionals and people with learning disabilities.
• Learning Disability Matters. Screening tools. Easy-read advice.

England

• Department of Health and Social Care. Resources for people who care for those with a learning disability.
• Black Country Healthcare. Managing constipation project. Includes care plans, screening tools and dietary advice for carers and professionals.
• Richard Handley Inquest. Video summary (YouTube). A video explaining the preventable death of Richard Handley due to constipation complications.

Wales

• Public Health Wales. Learning Disability Health Improvement Programme (PDF). Includes guidance on bowel care and early recognition of health deterioration.

Northern Ireland

• RCNi. Supporting accurate diagnosis of constipation. Peer-reviewed article from Queen’s University Belfast on improving constipation diagnosis in people with learning disabilities.

Screening inequalities exist among people with a learning disability, and they are less likely to access screening programmes.

For example, cervical screening and breast screening uptake are lower amongst women with a learning disability compared with the general population. Likewise, engagement with bowel screening can be difficult. 

People with a learning disability should access the same screening programmes as everyone else and be supported to make an informed choice about screening programmes that are offered to them. This includes providing information about the risks and benefits of screening in a way that they can understand.

Further information

UK-wide

• GOV.UK. Population screening - Supporting people with a learning disability. Comprehensive guidance for health professionals to reduce barriers and improve access to screening programmes.
• Mencap. Cancer and cancer screening. Easy read guides.
• NECLD Network. Screening Guidance Pack for Care Providers (PDF). Covers all major screening programmes, mental capacity guidance and best interest decision-making.
• PHE Screening Blog. Improving Access to NHS Screening Programmes. Updates and resources for professionals working in screening services.

England

• Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Screening resources. Includes accessible materials and support for screening participation.
• NHS. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening. 

Bowel Screening

• PHE. Bowel Cancer Screening. Information for people with learning disabilities.

Breast screening

• PHE. Breast Screening: Identifying and reducing Inequalities.
• PHE. Breast Screening Easy Guide.

Cervical screening

• GOV.UK. Cervical Screening: An easy guide.
• PHE. Supporting women with learning disabilities to access cervical screening.

Scotland

• NHS Education for Scotland. Health Screening Resources (Turas). Includes Easy Read materials for AAA, bowel, breast and cervical screening, including local board resources.
• NHS Lothian. Health Screening Hub. Dedicated site with accessible screening information.

Wales

• Learning Disability Wales: Screening Resources. Easy-read materials and videos to support informed decision-making.
• NHS Wales: Annual Health Check.

Northern Ireland

•  ARC NI: Cancer Screening Programmes. Advocacy and guidance for bowel, breast and cervical screening access.