People with learning disabilities and those living with SMI continue to face significant health inequalities, often linked to unmet or undiagnosed physical health needs. On average, people with learning disabilities and SMIs die decades earlier than the wider population (Mencap, no date).

Annual health checks are a key mechanism to address this issue. Although eligibility differs across the UK, checks aim to reduce clinical overshadowing, where symptoms of ill‑health are mistakenly attributed to a person’s learning disability, resulting in delayed diagnosis, poorer outcomes and preventable deaths.

Despite its importance, uptake remains low across the UK. In England, NHS Digital (2025) reported only 31.3% of the eligible population were taking up annual health checks. In Scotland, it is under a quarter (24%) (Fraser of Allender Institute, 2025).

Annual physical health checks for people with SMIs are similarly vital for monitoring cardiovascular health, medication effects and lifestyle factors. Yet in November 2025, only 58% in England on the SMI register received a full check (NHS Digital, 2025b).

Given the heightened vulnerability of both groups, improving access, uptake, and equitable delivery remains an important consideration for health policy and service planning. Good practice, such as that detailed in the LEDER report, should be taken up across the country (NHS England, 2024).

References

Fraser of Allender Institute (2025) Tracking Progress on Annual Health Checks for People with Learning Disabilities. Available at: fraserofallander.org/tracking-progress-on-annual-health-checks-for-people-with-learning-disabilities/ (Accessed 24 March 2026).

Mencap (no date) Mencap responds to reports of NHS target cuts for people with a learning disability. Available at: mencap.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns-and-activism/mencap-responds-reports-nhs-target-cuts-people-learning (Accessed 24 March 2026).

NHS Digital (2025) [MI] Learning Disabilities Health Check Scheme, England, September 2025. Available at: digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/learning-disabilities-health-check-scheme/england-september-2025 (Accessed 24 March 2026).

NHS Digital (2025b) Physical Health Checks for People with Severe Mental Illness, Q3 2024-25. Available at: digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/physical-health-checks-for-people-with-severe-mental-illness/q3-2024-25 (Accessed 24 March 2026).

NHS England (2024) Learning from lives and deaths – people with a learning disability and autistic people (LeDeR): Action from Learning Report 2023/24. Available at: leder.nhs.uk/images/aflreport2324/AFL report 2023-24.pdf (Accessed 24 March 2026).