‘Unacceptable level’ of ethnic exclusion

The “high levels” of exclusion from services that people with
learning difficulties from ethnic minorities experience are
“unacceptable” and need to be tackled, Stephen Ladyman said last
week.

The community care minister said both the Learning Disability Task
Force and the Valuing People Support Team had raised concerns about
the lack of progress.

“It is time to ensure that the promises in Valuing People are
delivered for all people from ethnic minority communities,” he
said.

Ladyman was speaking at the launch of the Department of Health’s
(DoH) Learning Difficulties and Ethnicity: Framework for Action to
improve take-up by potential service users.

He has asked government departments to consider action on
ethnicity, and promised to set out what would happen next on this
in his next annual report to parliament.

Ladyman has asked DoH officials to tell partnership boards that
ethnicity should be a priority for the revenue element of next
year’s learning disability development fund.