All of us at the DSA were very concerned to read the Care Quality Commission report (published on 2 June) that demonstrates a significant increase in the deaths of people with a learning disability from coronavirus (COVID-19). The analysis shows there has been a 134% increase in the number of death notifications this year compared […]
Government announce mandatory learning disability training
The government has announced it will pilot and roll out mandatory learning disability training for all relevant NHS healthcare professionals. It comes in response to campaigning from ourselves and thousands of others following grave concerns about the widely recognised health inequalities experienced by individuals with a learning disability. Read the ‘Right to be heard’ report […]
Education Committee Inquiry on SEND
The Education Committee has today published the report of its inquiry into special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). They have concluded that this generation is being let down by the current system, and that parents are facing a “titanic struggle” to find the right help and support. We contributed to the Special Education Consortium’s submission, […]
Educating our children: are things slipping?
By Carol Boys, Chief Executive As the start of our 50th anniversary grows ever closer, I have been spending quite a bit of time in the last few weeks reflecting on past achievements for people with Down’s syndrome. One of the major milestones of the last fifty years was the 1981 Education Act. It introduced […]
DSA statement on the death of ‘Jo-Jo’ from Hackney
The Down’s Syndrome Association is horrified by the details revealed today about the death of ‘Jo-Jo’. It is appalling to read about yet another person who had Down’s syndrome, and their family, being let down by the health and social care agencies that were supposed to be supporting them. The Safeguarding Adults Review published in […]
From the DSA – July 2019
2019 is passing very quickly and as we are between issues of The Journal we thought we’d gather together some news that might not have yet reached you yet.
Statement on NHS £5m funding for learning disability services
The Down’s Syndrome Association gives a cautious welcome to the announcement today that the Government is to provide an additional £5 million for addressing the health inequalities experienced by people with a learning disability. Given the scale of the problems identified by the most recent LeDeR annual report, we fear however, that this funding is […]
Health Alert! Campaign: Response to Government Consultation
Today sees the culmination of coordinated work across the DSA with the submission of our response to The Department of Health and Social Care consultation on mandatory learning disability training for health and care professionals. For a long while now we have been concerned about the variability in quality of healthcare individuals with Down’s syndrome […]
Statement on inquest into the death of Joe Ulleri
Carol Boys, Chief Executive of the DSA said today: “I have been appalled and saddened by the evidence given during the course of the inquest into Joe’s death…appalled that the care that Joe received at the Manchester Royal Infirmary was so disjointed and lacked any urgency or leadership; and saddened by Joe’s suffering and that […]
Statement on decision by High Court to permit judicial review into decisions made by coroner at the inquest into the death of Jacqueline Maguire
‘We are encouraged to hear permission has been granted for a judicial review to look at certain decisions made by the coroner at the inquest in to the death of Jacqueline Maguire who had Down’s syndrome. The Down’s Syndrome Association has ongoing and serious concerns about the premature deaths of people with Down’s syndrome. We […]
