Health inequality and learning disabilities

#MyGPandMe is addressing the fact that people with learning disabilities are dying from issues that may otherwise have been prevented with primary health care.



Our research shows that many people experience difficulties accessing timely and effective care. Some areas in particular require urgent attention.

People are dying from constipation

Causes of constipation include poor diet, dehydration, stress, lack of exercise, some medications, lack of monitoring of bowel health and some physical conditions. Many of these are commonly experienced by people with learning disabilities. If left uncured severe constipation can cause death.

Tackling constipation

Download our Constipation toolkit on our support workers’ page

Overmedication is ruining people’s quality of life

Overuse of psychotropic medication can also result in other issues such as constipation, weight gain and organ failure.

Tackling overmedication

Dimensions is actively reducing psychotropic prescriptions for the people we support. We’re signed up to the STOMP programme – we want to see more being done to reduce overmedication nationally.

People are missing out on crucial cancer screenings

National cancer screening programmes are crucial to identify cancers early and give people the best chance of survival. Developing knowledge and understanding of your body is important to spot changes. This can be more difficult for people with learning disabilities or autism, and support workers play a part.

Some screenings and tests can be invasive or cause extreme anxiety for people. This can change with some reasonable adjustments, such as considering less intrusive tests and taking extra time to explain them. Sometimes it can take months to help a person prepare for the procedure.

Joint working between GP surgery staff, support teams and patients is integral to this.

#MyGPandMe is tackling health inequality

Read the report, share the campaign and help make GP surgeries more inclusive for people with learning disabilities and autism.