Access to and use of health and social care services for people with learning disabilities during COVID-19: a longitudinal study
Tizard Learning Disability Review
ISSN: 1359-5474
Article publication date: 24 January 2022
Issue publication date: 21 March 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present data about access to and use of health and social care services by adults with learning disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected in three waves between December 2020 and September 2021 and concerned the use of health and social care services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected at one or more time-points directly from 694 adults with learning disabilities and through separate proxy reports by family carers and paid support staff of another 447 adults with learning disabilities.
Findings
Many people with learning disabilities who reported regularly accessing services/supports pre-pandemic were not receiving them during the timeframe of this study. There were indications of increasing access to some services and supports between Wave 2 and 3, but this was not universal.
Practical implications
People in Cohort 2, who were likely to have severe/profound learning disabilities, were less frequently reported to access online community activities than people in Cohort 1, which is likely to exacerbate existing social isolation for this cohort and their family carers. Service providers should seek to ensure equitable access to services and activities for all people with learning disabilities in the event of future lockdowns or pandemics.
Originality/value
This is the largest longitudinal study about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health and social care services for adults with learning disabilities in the UK. We primarily collected data directly from adults with learning disabilities and worked with partner organisations of people with learning disabilities and family members throughout the study.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the following collaborating organisations without whom this project would not be possible: All Wales People First, Learning Disability Wales, All Wales Forum of Parents and Carers of People with Learning Disabilities, Scottish Commission for Learning Disability, Promoting a More Inclusive Society (PAMIS), Positive Futures, Mencap Northern Ireland, Learning Disability England, PMLD Link, CAN Northern Ireland, Families Involved in Northern Ireland (FINI). Funding: The study was jointly funded by UK Research and Innovation (MR/V028596/1) and the National Institute for Health Research (COV0196). Conflicts of interest: none.
Citation
Flynn, S., Hatton, C., Hastings, R.P., Hayden, N., Caton, S., Heslop, P., Jahoda, A., Todd, S., Oloidi, E., Beyer, S., Mulhall, P. and Taggart, L. (2022), "Access to and use of health and social care services for people with learning disabilities during COVID-19: a longitudinal study", Tizard Learning Disability Review, Vol. 27 No. 1, pp. 57-66. https://doi.org/10.1108/TLDR-12-2021-0038
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited