I recently wrote to Helen Whately, the Social Care Minister, about two issues which I believe require further attention: the impact of Covid-19 on people with learning disabilities and ensuring openness and transparency about local council ‘easements’ to the 2014 Care Act.

There is long established evidence that people with learning disabilities die prematurely, often from preventable causes, and have worse health outcomes than the rest of the population. The Government must do everything possible to minimise the impact of Covid-19 on people with learning disabilities.

I am also concerned by reports that some local authorities have introduced ‘easements’ to the 2014 Care Act, and that these easements may be leaving people without a proper assessment of their needs, with reductions in their care packages, and denying them choice and control. That is why I have asked the Government to assess what further support councils need to fulfil their Care Act obligations, and to publish this information as soon as possible.

You can read more about this here, and you can read my letter above.