Health

Overall aim

Disabled people enjoy the same highest possible attainable standard of health, and the same right to life, as others. Differential health outcomes between disabled and non-disabled people reduced; disabled people have the same health care choices as non-disabled people; any additional needs including access needs are met.

Achievements from 2005 to 2009

• The NHS Constitution (external link), published January 2009, includes a commitment to equality of access and non-discrimination for disabled people.
• 'Valuing People Now' (external link) (2009) sets out policies and actions to deliver choice and control for people with learning disabilities and help ensure that mainstream public services become more inclusive.
• From December 2008, all people with a learning disability who are on the local authority register are being invited to come to their GP surgery for an annual health check.
• 'Health inequalities: progress and next steps' (external link) (June 2008) sets the future direction for tackling health, including those experienced by disabled people, and ensuring services work for those who need them most.

Next steps on our strategy

• Renewed drive to tackle health inequalities, paying particular attention to groups or sections of society where improvements in health and life expectancy are not keeping pace with the rest of the population.
• Taking forward 'High Quality Care For All' (external link) (July 2008), which set a new foundation for a health service that provides greater patient choice, based on the principles of fairness (ensuring services are equally available to all and taking full account of personal circumstances and diversity) and personalised services (tailored to the needs and wants of each individual, especially the most vulnerable and those in greatest need).
• Investment of an additional £250 million to improve access to healthcare for the most disadvantaged, focusing on the most deprived areas of the country.
• Report of Sir Michael Marmot's review of health inequalities in England, due in early 2010. The review was initiated at the request of the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health, and will advise on the future development of a health inequalities strategy post- 2010.
• Tendering for a new Confidential Inquiry on health access and outcomes for people with learning disabilities, and a public health observatory, with the expectation these will be up and running in 2010.

• Article 9 - accessibility
• Article 10 - right to life.
• Article 25 - health
• Article 26 - habilitation and rehabilitation

• 5.1 (education and awareness programme for NHS staff on increasing choice and control and Disability Equality Duty).
• 5.2 (expert Patients Programme and self management - increasing take-up of existing programmes and developing new approaches that work for disabled people (including older people).
• 5.3 (choice and control and continuing health care).