The number of learning disability nurses has dropped to ‘alarmingly’ low levels, according to the Royal College of Nursing following the publication of new UCAS data.
The data reveals that the number of learning disability nurses has fallen by 44% since records began, dropping from 5,553 in 2009 to 3,095 in 2024.
The RCN are now calling on the government to prioritise recruiting and retaining learning disability nurses in order to ensure people with learning disabilities can access the care they need and deserve.
The data also shows that the number of acceptances onto learning disability nursing courses has remained consistently low over the past decade. In 2023, only 2% of all nursing course acceptances were for learning disability courses.
The regional data paints a particularly shocking picture across some areas of England. For example, in the South East, there were just five acceptances to learning disability nursing courses in 2023, and just 10 acceptances in both the South West and East of England.
London, the North West an the West Midlands had higher acceptance numbers, with 90 acceptances in universities in the North West, 85 in London, and 75 in the West Midlands.
However, the RCN say the rate at which the number of these specialist nurses is decreasing will leave many people with a learning disability without the support they need.
Learning disability nurses provide specialist healthcare support to people with learning disabilities who often face significant health inequalities and die around 20 years younger that the general population.
The latest LeDeR report found that 42% of people with a learning disability are dying avoidable deaths, meaning their deaths could have been avoided if they had access to good quality healthcare.
High quality care and support is therefore vital for this group, and RCN Professional Lead for Learning Disability Nursing Jonathan Beebee says the figures reveal that people with learning disabilities are being ‘forgotten’.
He said: “These figures are highly alarming. For decades the number of learning disability nurses has been decreasing – and now we’re seeing large sections of the country where there is the future prospect of no specialist nurse support for miles and miles. It is damning of the way people with a learning disability are being forgotten.
“The number of learning disability nurses has lowered to unacceptable levels – and we are even hearing about universities closing their courses. This dearth of support for one of society’s most marginalised groups is appalling.
“This must be a priority for any new government as we enter an election. People with a learning disability deserve skilled support – and the role of learning disability nurses is crucial to achieving this.”
