RCN welcomes learning disabilities investment
Published: 07 August 2008
The RCN has welcomed the £96 million in funding pledged this week by the Government to provide people with learning disabilities with better healthcare, community support and employment prospects.
The funding, which is ring-fenced for three years from 2008/09 until 2010/11, will help people with learning disabilities move from campuses to housing in the community. This will include support for workforce training, advocacy support for more inclusive community based activities and help to get people into employment.
Following Sir Jonathan Michael’s the report last week Healthcare for All, the RCN has said that no one can afford to sit back and wait for others to act. RCN Learning Disability Adviser, Ann Norman said:
“The RCN is delighted to see this move. I hope it will be one of a number of progressive steps that need to be taken to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities. We all have a responsibility to make sure that people with learning disabilities have the same opportunities for better health care as the rest of us”.
The funding follows a £175million investment announced last year to help primary care trusts provide more appropriate community arrangements for people with learning disabilities.