Delyth Jewell MS, Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
People with learning disabilities have the same right as everyone else to live healthy, safe and fulfilling lives in their own communities, with access to the support, services and opportunities they need to thrive. While progress has been made towards achieving this in recent years, we know that too many people continue to experience inequalities in health and wellbeing, and that some remain in hospital settings for longer than is necessary or appropriate.
Today, I am therefore setting out three significant steps we are taking to strengthen services, improve accountability and support our long-term ambition of ensuring that people with learning disabilities are able to live independently, safely and closer to home wherever possible.
I am pleased to announce the first publication of Learning Disability Specialist Inpatient Data for Wales. It provides information on Welsh residents with a learning disability who are receiving specialist inpatient care in Wales and England and is derived from the quarterly inpatient census undertaken by NHS Performance and Improvement and published by Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) on behalf of the Welsh Government.
The publication of the Learning Disability in patient data is an important milestone. Better information and evidence are essential if we are to understand need, identify areas for improvement and track progress over time. It also directly responds to recommendations made by the Stolen Lives Wales campaign and the Learning Disability Ministerial Advisory Group Task and Finish Group report, From Hospitals to Homes, which highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability in relation to inpatient services.
We will continue to publish data from future quarterly censuses, helping to monitor progress in reducing avoidable admissions, supporting timely discharge and ensuring people receive care in the most appropriate setting.
The second key step will be the publication later this month of the Integrated Quality Statement for People with a Learning Disability. The Quality Statement establishes a shared vision and clear national framework for improving the quality, consistency and experience of care and support for people with learning disabilities across Wales.
Developed with input from people with lived experience, families, professionals and partners across health and social care, it sets out the standards and expectations that should underpin services and support. Importantly, it promotes an integrated approach across health, social care and housing, ensuring that services work together to meet individual needs and improve outcomes.
The third step is the implementation of our new three-year Learning Disability Transformation Programme, which commenced in 2026 and will provide the vehicle for delivering whole-system change. The programme has been designed to respond to the key themes and recommendations emerging from the From Hospitals to Homes report, while building on progress achieved through the Learning Disability Strategic Action Plan.
The programme will focus on strengthening community support, improving access to information and advice, developing new models of integrated community care, improving inpatient pathways, and ensuring that people receive the right support at the right time and in the right place. It will also support preparation for forthcoming Mental Health Act reforms and further embed partnership working across health, social care and housing.
Through this programme we will continue to shift the balance of care towards community-based support, reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, improve discharge arrangements and strengthen the services that help people live independently and well within their local communities.
Taken together, these three actions represent a significant step forward in our commitment to improving outcomes for people with learning disabilities in Wales.
They demonstrate our determination to build services that are more transparent, more integrated and more person-centred, while ensuring that people with learning disabilities are supported to lead fulfilling lives, enjoy equal opportunities and remain connected to the families, homes and communities that matter most to them.