Thousands of Scots with learning disabilities still waiting for promised health checks

New data reveals 76% of eligible Scots with learning disabilities were not offered a promised health check last year.

The Scottish Government policy was introduced in May 2022 in a bid to improve health outcomes for people with learning disabilities.

They experience higher rates of undiagnosed conditions and preventable illnesses, and on average, die 20 years earlier than the general population.

Health boards were pledged £2m per year to implement the checks, but some, like NHS Lanarkshire, are yet to offer a single health check, despite being given more than £736,000 of funding to do so.

Kris McLaughlin from Motherwell is one of 1,500 people in Lanarkshire who are eligible for a health check, but has not been contacted.

He told STV News he would like one as he has a history of diabetes and heart disease in his family and tries to keep as fit as possible at the gym.

“It makes me feel left out, like our health isn’t important. Especially people with learning disabilities, as we want to be seen and heard. It should have started sooner, across the board, so people with disabilities like me don’t have to wait in a big, long queue.”

Kris also works for the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities and has attended the cross-party group on learning disabilities at Holyrood.

“I think it would be amazing if they were rolled out sooner. I can verbalise what’s wrong, but some people with learning disabilities can’t, even if they have the support there.

“I want to see a change for people in Scotland where health is seen and taken seriously. It’s been more than three years, why are the checks taking so long to come out?”

New data from the Scottish Government reveals 25,231 people were identified for an annual health check, but only 6,161 were offered (24% of those eligible).

It’s an increase on the year before, where only 6% of those eligible had been offered a health check.

Mari Galletly from charity Enable Care told STV News: “Access to regular health checks can prevent long-term illness and deaths in people with learning disabilities.

Mari Galletly from the charity Enable Care. STV News

“More has to be done to make sure people get regular invites to health checks and screenings and be considered in terms of the accessibility of that information. We know the promise was made in 2022, and progress across the board has been somewhat slow.”

Paul O’Kane, shadow cabinet secretary for social justice, social security and equalities, told STV News: “This is shocking, the reality is we have had three health ministers in three years who’ve all made the same commitment to delivering health checks across the country.

“They’ve poured millions of pounds into the policy and yet we haven’t had this delivered. The reality is, people need these health checks. People are being badly let down by the SNP, and they’re going to have to explain why this is the situation.

“It’s clear if the SNP aren’t going to get on and deliver this policy, then they should get out of the way and let a government come in who will.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “Learning Disability Annual Health Checks save and improve lives.

“We welcome news that in 2024-2025 over six thousand people with a learning disability were offered a health check – this is a marked improvement in delivery, compared to previous year – and nearly 4,000 people took up the opportunity to have a health check, resulting in referrals to other services, providing vital opportunities for prevention, early intervention, treatment and support.

“Ministers have set a very clear expectation that Boards should fully deliver on the commitment set out in the national directions to offer annual health checks to all eligible individuals.

“We understand that NHS Lanarkshire has now recruited a team and will commence delivery imminently. Ministers will continue to press for updates from the Board on how they will continue to drive progress towards our targets.”

Claire Rae, operational director for community health and adult social care services in North Lanarkshire, said: “We fully recognise the importance of these health checks in addressing health inequalities and improving outcomes.

“We remain committed to ensuring that eligible individuals receive their health checks and to support this, we are actively progressing plans to strengthen our capacity and are exploring innovative approaches to improve service delivery. This will ensure that individuals receive the care they need as efficiently as possible.

“We are working closely with key stakeholders and are confident that the measures we are taking will enable us to make substantial progress towards ensuring all eligible individuals are offered their annual health check.”