Citizen's First, a three year (2008-11) plan for Newcastle written by the Newcastle Learning Disabilities Partnership Board took their estimates of the number of people with learning disability from 'A Life Like No Other' Healthcare Commission 2007.
- There is a national acceptance that the prevalence of disability in children is 7% of the child population (4,487).
- In Newcastle the most recent figure for children is 456, taken from family doctors practice lists i.e. people confirmed as having a disability. (Source: Community Team Learning Disability, 2007, from Citizens First 2008)
- However Newcastle has a population of 274,000, with some 64,100 children (aged 0-19). If the accepted prevalence of Learning Disability of 2% is applied to this number it would suggest 1276 children of whom 319 would have a severe learning disability. (Citizens First 2008).
- Quality Outcome Framework (QoF) data for 2007-08 suggests a total of 1,206 people with learning disabilities (and will include both adults and children) on GP registers in Newcastle. This gives an unadjusted prevalence rate of 0.4%.
Physical Disability:
The number of children and young people of school age, attending Newcastle maintained schools, with physical disabilities increased from 1.8% (50 children) in 2007 to 2.3% (77 children) in 2010. Newcastle is below the national average of 3.8%.
Sensory Impairment:
The number of children with a hearing impairment decreased from 62 to 54 between 2007 and 2009; visual impairment remains similar at 29 and 28; and children with multi-sensory impairment were 2 in 2007 and 6 in 2009 .
A summary of the number of children with other disabilities is provided below:-
- The number of children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders increased from 181 in 2008 (6.3%) to 221 in 2010 (6.7%). National average of 8.1%
- Children and young people with Severe Learning Difficulties decreased from 251 in 2008 (8.7%) to 235 in 2010 (7.1%). Newcastle well above national (4.1%).
- Profound Multiple Learning Difficulties increased from 39 (1.4%) in 2008 to 51 in 2010 (1.5%). Newcastle in line with national (1.4%).
- Specific Learning Difficulties increased from 345 in 2008 (12.0%) to 471 in 2010 (14.3%). Newcastle above national (11.4%).
- Speech, Language and Communication Needs increased from 303 in 2008 (10.6%) to 412 in 2010 (12.5%). Newcastle below national (16.3%).
- Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties remained similar at 644 in 2008 (22.4%) and 757 in 2010 (23.0%). Newcastle broadly in line with national (22.7%).
- Moderate Learning Difficulties increased from 943 in 2008 (32.8%) to 948 in 2010 (28.7%). Newcastle above national (24.2%).
Trends
- Overall, there will be an increase over the next two decades in both the numbers of people with learning disabilities known to services 11% over the decade 2001-2011, 14% over the two decades 2001-2021 and the estimated 'true' number of people with learning disabilities in England 15% over the decade 2001-2011, 20% over the two decades 2001-2021.
- The number of children with complex health needs are increasing.
- More children are being identified with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
- The awareness of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is increasing.
Inequalities
People with learning disabilities are 50 times more likely to die before the age of 50 than the general population. It is known that people with a learning disability are predisposed to the development of a number of health limiting conditions (congenital heart conditions, alzheimers, gastrointestinal problems and cancer). Many of these conditions can either be prevented, or the severity reduced by early screening and good access to primary and secondary care health provision.
There needs to be improved systems to share data about children and young people with learning disabilities to understand the key inequalities that exist in Newcastle.
People with learning disabilities are 50 times more likely to die before the age of 50 than the general population. It is known that people with a learning disability are predisposed to the development of a number of health limiting conditions (congenital heart conditions, alzheimers, gastrointestinal problems and cancer). Many of these conditions can either be prevented, or the severity reduced by early screening and good access to primary and secondary care health provision.
There needs to be improved systems to share data about children and young people with learning disabilities to understand the key inequalities that exist in Newcastle.