People at Risk if Funding Gap Grows

Over the past ten years, great progress has been made in the support of people with learning disabilities. There remains much to be achieved and inequalities in health care must be tackled as one of many priorities.

Patrick Wallace, Chief Executive of Self Unlimited, said: “It is every citizen’s right to expect timely and appropriate health care treatment.We must all challenge inequality and help people who have a learning disability to ensure they are afforded the rights that we all expect”. He continued: “The drive for greater efficiencies has dipped under the affordability bar and we are seeing some local authority fee settlements at 0% against rising care costs of 3%”.

Self Unlimited believe that this cannot continue if the high quality service levels that everyone wants to see are to be maintained.

Those who have communication issues often use personal care workers or care staff to get their message across. Care staff are often the lowest paid workers in the welfare system.Their conditions and status must be improved if we are to see sustainable, well organised services in the future.