There was a great turnout for the launch of the complex care programme focusing on improving care for people with Learning Disabilities, Autism, and Serious Mental Illness. Lots of deep and meaningful conversations took place about how we can work more closely together across services to improve access, experience, and outcomes for those who are often most at risk of health inequalities.

Pip Mayo, Managing Director of Walsall Place for Black Country Integrated Care Board, opened the day by asking attendees to consider the way they work and challenge themselves on whether they are delivering services in an inclusive way and reminded everyone why they were there:

“People don't die as a direct consequence of their learning disability, autism or serious mental illness — they die because of the impact it has on life chances, access to services and experiences.”

Key findings from the Black Country Healthcare Trust Annual Report 2023–24 demonstrated the depth of inequalities with the median age of death for people with Learning Disabilities and Autism just 61 years for White groups and just 54 years for those from Ethnic Minority communities with respiratory conditions the leading cause of death.

More locally in Walsall, people living with Learning Disabilities, Autism or Serious Mental Illness face considerable health challenges:

  • 30% of people with SMI smoke (vs 14.5% population average)
  • People with LD face higher levels of severe obesity
  • 76.5% of those in drug/alcohol treatment report a mental illness
  • Many struggle to access the health information and support programmes others take for granted

During the day participants heard more about the LeDeR programme (Learning from the Lives and Deaths of people with Learning Disability and Autistic people) which aims to improve quality of care, reduce health inequalities and prevent premature deaths.

Key themes form the day included:

  • Valuable networking and shared learning
  • Co-production from the outset, with carers and lived experience front and centre
  • Emphasis on connected services for seamless care
  • Building trust to drive real and lasting change
  • Encouraging and supporting self-advocacy

Attendees were invited to make a personal pledge to improve physical health support for people with LD, autism and/or serious mental illness. Emma Ozdemir pledged to be more mindful during patient assessments and to share what she learns with her team while Fiona Micheli committed to ensuring her team at the Care Navigation Centre is aware of and signposts to Walsall’s voluntary and community services.

Another attendee at the event, Lorrianna Craddock  from NashDom Community Interest Company, said it was a fantastic opportunity to connect, learn, and explore how to better support people in her community

The day brought together voices from across the system and place, including strong representation from VCSE partners, leading to rich conversations and inspiring ideas which will be used to develop a plan for a more inclusive, joined-up approach to supporting people with Learning Disabilities, Autism and Serious Mental Illness in Walsall.