SNP fail pledge to offer adults with learning disabilities annual health check

The SNP has broken a critical post-pandemic health pledge to thousands of vulnerable Scots, new data has shown.

Despite the SNP’s promise to offer all known adults with learning disabilities a free annual health check by March 31, 2023, the majority are still waiting to be contacted.

At least £4m has been handed out to health boards since the plan was first announced in May 2022.

Data obtained by Scottish Labour and given exclusively to STV News has confirmed that none of Scotland’s NHS boards have met the target.

People with learning disabilities have told STV News they're being failed by the Scottish Government after new data shows a key post-pandemic pledge to offer them annual health checks has failed in every single health board. — People with learning disabilities have told STV News they’re being failed by the Scottish Government after new data shows a key post-pandemic pledge to offer them annual health checks has failed in every single health board. STV News

In NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Shetland, no patients received a health check despite nearly 3,000 being eligible.

Former social care minister Kevin Stewart wrote to the Holyrood Health Committee in 2022 outlining the Scottish Government’s expectation that all known adults with learning disabilities will have been offered their first annual health check by the 2023 deadline and that the majority would have had one completed.

After being questioned by Scottish Labour’s Paul O’Kane in February 2024, current minister Maree Todd pledged an amended date of March 31, 2024.

However, health board data obtained by Scottish Labour confirmed that this delayed timetable has also not been met.

Scots with learning disabilities die on average twenty years earlier than the rest of the population.

‘I’m a high-risk category’

Heather was eligible for a health check but has not been contacted.

“I would really like to speak to the doctors about my health issues, but it is really hard to get an appointment, and you only get 15 minutes to talk about stuff. Having my health check would give me more time to talk about what I want to”, she explained.

“According to the doctors, I’m in a high-risk category, so I really feel like I should be getting a health check.

“Also, Covid is still out there, and I was recently unwell because I had norovirus, which was scary because I know the statistics for people with learning disabilities.”

Delay

Commenting Scottish Labour’s shadow cabinet secretary for equalities Paul O’Kane said the SNP had let Scots with learning disabilities down.

“Two years ago, the SNP boasted about bringing in these health checks.

“In my role as Convener for the CPG on Learning Disabilities, I’ve spoken to many people who know they’re entitled to a health check yet have no indication of when they will get one, and that is unacceptable.

“This SNP Government must now explain what has happened to the millions it poured into this plan if the intended recipients are not seeing the results.”

O’Kane said the health secretary Neil Gray and mental health and wellbeing minister Maree Todd must explain why the target was missed before Parliament.

Todd said offering annual health checks is a big step towards fulfilling the Scottish Government’s ambition for people with learning disabilities to live longer and healthier lives.

“The Scottish Government allocates £2m each year to NHS Boards to implement annual health checks for people with learning disabilities,” she said.

“Most boards have started offering annual health checks and this has led to positive results in identifying treatable health conditions and supporting people with learning disabilities to access appropriate treatment.

“We are aware boards have faced challenges in delivering health checks within the projected timescale and are doing so on a phased basis. We are working closely with all boards to deliver these health checks across Scotland.”