Healthcare Inequalities in the UK
Ethnic minorities with learning disabilities face significant healthcare inequalities in the UK, resulting in substantial life expectancy gaps.
We need to hear patient voices more and act on any disparity.
Individuals with learning disabilities encounter greater challenges accessing healthcare, with ethnic minorities facing even more pronounced obstacles. This community already experiences a reduced life expectancy, dying 19.5 years younger than the general population. When considering ethnicity, recent findings indicate that South Asians die 20 years earlier than their white counterparts.
This disparity reflects the long-standing failures in healthcare, exposing vulnerable groups to racism and ableism. The NHS Race & Health Observatory, established in 2021, has been instrumental in addressing inequalities by driving policy changes and providing practical solutions.
Author's summary: Healthcare inequalities affect ethnic minorities with learning disabilities.