Ombudsmen welcome NHS progress on caring for people with learning disabilities, but note there is still a long way to go.

Ann Abraham, the Health Service Ombudsman and Tony Redmond, the Local Government Ombudsman have welcomed the publication of the “Six Lives” Progress Report today. Speaking about the report Ms Abraham said: “The Department of Health’s report demonstrates that the NHS and social care have taken seriously the issues identified in Six Lives. The report shows progress has been made in improving the quality of care and treatment for people with learning disabilities in some areas and demonstrates how the work of the Ombudsmen can achieve significant change for the benefit of a large group of people. This open and honest report makes clear the extent of the work which remains to be done and identifies ways of doing this. There is still a long way to go. It is disappointing particularly that local authorities have not focused as closely on the issues as the NHS, given the importance of joint work. All who work in health and social care need to continue learning the lessons of Six Lives. The challenge of ensuring that all parts of the heath and social care system improve the day to day experience and outcomes of those with learning disabilities remains as strong as ever.” Local Government Ombudsman, Tony Redmond said; “The report rightly recognises that local authorities are central to commissioning learning disability services, whether funded directly or with direct payments that allow them to be contracted privately. I draw encouragement from the evidence that shows good quality care, tailored to individual need and based on informed choice, is a more common experience for people using services. The report highlights how much more needs to be done before this outcome is guaranteed, yet this is a reasonable expectation for all people who use those services. The care sector reaches across social care and health and is learning to listen better to people who use services, and to the people who advocate for them. Being open and responsive to complaints, ensuring people have support and advocacy assistance when needed, and learning the lessons that complaints can illustrate so powerfully are key ways of maintaining the progress made.”