The situation is stark with the number of registered learning disability nurses declining by 43% since 2009 and the closure of university programmes

The question of whether learning disability nursing has a future as a field of practice has been part of the narrative surrounding the profession for many years.

But the latest prediction that it might collapse by 2028 is particularly stark. Evidence shows that the number of registered learning disability nurses has declined by 43% since 2009 and several universities have recently announced closure of their programmes.

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Campaigners including learning disability nurses, the RCN, the charity Mencap and the activist Paula McGowan – whose work on improving the care of people with learning disabilities and/or autism is well known – have taken the issue to the top and await the outcome.

‘It is vital that commitments made to increase the number of learning disability nurses already in practice and in the pipeline are achieved’

NHS workforce predictions are notoriously unreliable and have been wrong before, but there is a continued decline in numbers of learning disability nurses. Such a decline highlights a failure to invest in specialist nursing and in improving the healthcare of people with learning disabilities.

Pledge to increase nurse training places by 16% by 2025-26 is likely to be missed

The latest LeDeR report highlights the importance of specialist nursing and shows adults with a learning disability die, on average, nearly 20 years earlier than the general population.

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And it appears that a pledge in the 2023 NHS Long Term Workforce Plan to increase training places by 16% by 2025-26 will be missed.

Of course, we have a new government and NHS England, which made the pledge, is being abolished. However, it is vital that commitments made to increase the number of learning disability nurses in practice and in the pipeline are achieved.

There is plenty of evidence stretching back years demonstrating that where registered nurses are employed at sufficient levels outcomes for patients is better. 

If that is true for the general population then it should also be the case for people with learning disabilities.

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This issue may not be top of ministers’ agendas, but campaigners are right to lobby and apply pressure now. Much is at stake.

Christine Walker is editor, Learning Disability Practice @RCNi_Christine