Commentary on “The Confidential Inquiry into the deaths of people with learning disabilities – the story so far”

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a commentary on the previous paper in this issue “The Confidential Inquiry (CI) into the deaths of people with learning disabilities – the story so far.”

Design/methodology/approach

The author considers the potential impact of the CI in reducing the health inequalities and premature deaths of people with learning disabilities.

Findings

The author considers how the process of conducting the CI described in the paper will address the fundamental issues of indifference and discrimination documented in the Mencap report, Death by Indifference.

Originality/value

The author suggests that, in conjunction with the findings that the CI will publish in the future, that the political will to change the way health services are delivered to people with learning disabilities in the future will be crucial.

Citation

Dawkins, B. (2011), "Commentary on “The Confidential Inquiry into the deaths of people with learning disabilities – the story so far”", Tizard Learning Disability Review, Vol. 16 No. 5, pp. 26-28. https://doi.org/10.1108/13595471111185738