ABSTRACT
People with a learning disability (LD) and/or autism remain one of the most vulnerable and socially excluded groups. In 2007, Mencap reported on the deaths of six people with a learning disability and concluded that a label of a 'learning disability' was a risk factor in terms of mortality in hospital. The Care Act 2014 introduced a new type of advocacy called 'independent advocacy'. This form of advocacy, for the first time, accepted that the person with a learning disability and their family needed support by an independent person to enable the facilitation of communication and to advocate for the right services to meet the person's needs. All hospitals need to undertake an Equality Impact Assessment under the Equality Act. It is proposed that hospital services need to transform through compliance with the legislation and to demonstrate their accountability to all members of the public including the most vulnerable by making reasonable adjustments.
