Brummies with learning disabilities half as likely to be screened for cancer
That compares to less than one third of women (29 per cent) without a learning difficulty
Alice Cachia
People with learning disabilities in Birmingham are more than twice as likely to miss out on routine cancer screenings than those without.
New NHS figures show a shocking two thirds of women with a learning disability (68 per cent) did not have a smear test, despite being due one, in the five years to 2017/18.
That compares to less than one third of women (29 per cent) without a learning difficulty.
Experts said this showed an "unacceptable inequality in cancer screening".
All women aged between 25 and 64 are eligible for smear tests every five years - a screening that checks for abnormal cervix cells that could indicate cancer.
The new data, published by NHS Digital, shows there were 723 female patients in Birmingham with a learning disability who were eligible for a smear test in the five years to 2017/18.
Of those, 492 had not had one.
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The pattern is repeated across other types of cancer screenings.
Nearly six in 10 (59 per cent) women with learning disabilities in Birmingham who were eligible for breast cancer screenings failed to have one done in the five years to 2017/18.
That compares to 40 per cent of women without learning disabilities.
Men and women aged between 60 and 69 are invited for a colorectal cancer screen once every five years.
But 46 per cent of those with a learning disability in Birmingham failed to have the screening done, compared with 36 per cent of those without a learning disability.
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Dan Scorer, Head of Policy at learning disability charity Mencap, said: "These figures show an unacceptable inequality in cancer screening uptake for people with a learning disability, which adds to an already worrying picture about the health of this group of people.
"People with a learning disability die sooner, on average, than those without, and around 1,200 die unnecessarily every year because of a lack of appropriate and timely healthcare.
"The approach to screening needs to be tailored to an individual's needs so that people with a learning disability do not miss out on potentially life-saving cancer tests.
"Many people with a learning disability, for example, would benefit from small but important adjustments, such as receiving accessible invitation letters in Easy Read format; having procedures – which can often feel highly personal - explained in simple language, with time to discuss questions or concerns; or having a safe and quiet space to wait to be seen.
"These adjustments can only be made when those involved in a person's care know that the patient has a learning disability and is aware of their needs.
"We need the system for flagging this to be robust and for staff to be confident about communicating with people with a learning disability,particularly on intimate issues.
"The government's commitment to mandatory learning disability training for healthcare staff will be an important factor in making the health system more accessible and could save lives.
"The findings of the current consultation must be taken seriously and implemented quickly so we can see more people with a learning disability living long and healthy lives."
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The situation reflects a national trend.
Overall, more than two-thirds of women with learning disabilities in England failed to have a smear test in the five years to 2017/18.
Nearly half (47.5 per cent) of women with learning disabilities missed a breast cancer screening, as did more than a fifth (22.2 per cent) of people eligible for colorectal screenings.
An NHS England spokesperson said: "As set out in the Long Term Plan, the NHS is taking action to do more for people with a learning disability, including rapidly expanding the number of people getting health checks every year, and as we increase access to care across the country, local NHS services will need to do more to increase screening of all underserved groups in their own community."