Coronavirus pandemic saw almost 90% of people with learning disabilities stripped of care

Almost nine out of 10 people with a learning disability (87 per cent) have had their care packages taken away during the COVID-19 pandemic leaving them struggling to cope but more families now fear further cuts, new research reveals.

Almost three quarters (72 per cent) of family carers worry about more cuts to care packages, with some reporting their local authority is already trying to slash their loved ones’ care package against their wishes.

The learning disability charity Mencap sought the views of 410 people across the UK about their experiences of caring for someone with a learning disability during England’s second national lockdown.

The poll, conducted from 5-18 November, found 63 per cent of people with a learning disability had their social care package reduced or stopped during the second lockdown.

The poll results followed a similar survey of 1,069 family carers this summer, which revealed the extent of social care cuts during the pandemic.

Care cuts led to loved one being sectioned

Cuts to day services and respite for carers has had a devastating impact on people with a learning disability and their families, with almost two thirds (62 per cent) of family carers saying their loved one’s support needs grew during the pandemic.

As a result, some 71 per cent of family carers said they had no choice but to increase the amount of care they offer themselves but with no breaks, families say they have reached breaking point.

Most family carers (73 per cent) believe care package changes during the second lockdown are having a negative impact on their loved one’s mental health and some 59 per cent said it had hit their physical health.

One family spoke about how care cuts had caused mental health problems leading to their loved one being sectioned.

Another family member of a 20-year-old with a learning disability, said: “All services stopped and very little has been reinstated. [My loved one] does not understand what is happening, but it is impacting on physical health, hair loss, loss of appetite”.

A 72-year-old family carer of a 49-year-old lwith a learning disability, said: “My wife and I have had no respite since last April. We have been out together only once. The future is bleak and depressing.”

There are approximately 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK. A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability which can cause problems with everyday tasks such as shopping.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak urged to reinstate care by giving £3.2bn in spending review

As part of the charity’s #SocialCareCrisis campaign, the learning disabilities charity Mencap, on behalf of families, is calling on the government to provide at least £3.2 billion in emergency funding for social care in Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s spending review which takes place on Wednesday 25 November.

The charity says the money should be used to reinstate "vital support services" safely this winter. To date (23 November), the charity’s petition to the Treasury has secured over 10,000 signatures.

Edel Harris, chief executive of Mencap, said: “Many people with a learning disability have spent the pandemic trapped at home, losing vital life skills and suffering from increasing mental health problems.

“Families have been left to pick up the pieces, but they are exhausted, stressed and in some cases, completely broken. Without any respite and with relationships under strain, it’s no wonder they feel abandoned and like life will never return to normal. Families are on the verge of breakdown.

“Already we are seeing cash-strapped local authorities clawing back people’s support packages at a time when their support needs are increasing and when they need it most."

The social care sector needs at least £7 billion investment a year in social care in England by 2023/24, according to the Health and Social Care Committee.

There is a gaping hole in local authorities budgets for services supporting people with a learning disability – up to £200m in 2020/21, according to the Association of Directors of Adults Social Services’ (ADASS) latest Budget Survey.

The pandemic led to England's councils facing at least a £6.6bn increase in social care costs up to the end of September, according to the Local Government Association and ADASS.

Mr Harris added: "It’s a ticking timebomb that the Government must put right. We urge the Government to provide much-needed emergency funding for social care in its spending review so vital support services can be safely reinstated this winter.”