4. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Services: The Learning Disability Action Plan

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:58 pm on 24 May 2022.

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Photo of Julie Morgan Julie Morgan Labour 3:58, 24 May 2022

Thank you very much for those questions. Certainly, individuals with learning disabilities are predisposed to respiratory and cardiac disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal problems and gastro conditions, including some cancers, along with what the Member has highlighted. Individuals with Down's syndrome are likely to develop dementia at an early age—around 30 years old. So, these health checks are absolutely vital. That was part of the Improving Lives programme, which was our previous plan, which did include the health checks. But they all stopped when the pandemic started, in the same way for nearly every sort of check—they all stopped. So, there has been a big setback because of the pandemic. But we are reinvesting £350,000 this year now to start up those checks, which will be monitored. I think the Member makes a very important point about how vulnerable people with learning disabilities are to the impact of poor health, and these health checks are absolutely vital.