Health inequalities for black and minority ethnic people with learning disabilities

More generally, I'm still particularly concerned about the inequity in services for black and Asian people with learning disabilities. This was brought home to me last week at LD Today when we hosted a workshop on being black and hate crime. For this, Raymond had recorded a story about how he had been abused on a bus journey the other month. It brought tears to everyone's eyes that such things still happen and nothing is done.

Equal treatment

I vowed then to renew efforts to do what I can to stop friends of mine, who happen to be black, being treated in such discriminatory and disgusting ways in whatever service they use. (You can hear Raymond's story by clicking here) Therefore, I asked Sir Jonathan what his report and recommendations would do to help black and Asian people with learning disabilities get equal treatment?

We already know, of course, from life and the report that people with learning disabilities do not get equal health care treatment. The inquiry was also told about the plight of people with learning disabilities from black and ethnic communities. Michael mentions this by reporting the increased number of people with learning disabilities from Asian communities and the fact that "morbidity and mortality is higher amongst those with learning disability from a minority ethnic community".

Expecting great things

He rightly reports that "people with learning disabilities are less likely to be given pain relief and less likely to receive palliative care especially if they are also from a minority ethnic community"! So he had some of the facts, and he said he had a black person on his expert panel who had given her views. I was therefore expecting great things from Sir Jonathan's answer.

But I was disappointed, to say the least. He said there was no need for legislation on this issue, indeed the laws about discrimination are already there, as they are for people with learning disabilities. Unfortunately, as we know, that hasn't stopped the discrimination. He mentioned a recommendation for a new reporting system so that we at least will know about people with learning disabilities in the health-care system, but didn't say this would be extended to black people with learning disabilities, although I sincerely hope the figures will be cross referenced and available.

Repeatedly let down

I wasn't allowed a supplementary so will be chasing up on this point. Now, on the LD taskforce sub group on ethnicity (before it was disbanded as nnecessary), we were assured by the Department of Health that we need not be concerned, as the issue of ethnicity would be given due attention in all future reports on learning disability. We had unsuccessfully asked for clearer action, but were told not to worry. Since then we have repeatedly been let down.

I talked to Jackie Downer, the black person Michael referred to on his committee. She had this to say about the lack of any specific recommendations, "you just knew it was going to happen, I'm tired and I'm not bothered anymore. I'm black and with a learning disability we're at the back, it's a way of life and we had better get used to it. All learning disability services are the same".

What I find unbelievable is a health report hears clear evidence about the issues for black people with learning disabilities but fails to give it any attention in any of the recommendations! To continue to allow a greater proportion of black people with learning disabilities to receive substandard care and die younger than others is unforgivable - but I, for one, am not prepared to let the matter rest.