Covid Death Rates 4-6 Times Higher for People with Learning Disabilities, Report Reveals

People with learning disabilities in the UK faced a dramatically heightened risk during the Covid-19 pandemic, with death rates in England four to six times higher than average, according to a new report. Fiona Walker, a contributor to the report, said she knew from experience that her life would not have been valued equally. The 1.5 million people with learning disabilities in the UK have long experienced stark health inequalities, and the pandemic exposed and intensified them. On average, people with learning disabilities die 19.5 years earlier than those without, and their deaths are almost twice as likely to be classified as avoidable. The report highlights that lessons from the crisis have yet to be absorbed, leaving a vulnerable population at continued risk. As health and social care systems evolve, addressing these disparities is a matter of life and death.