Learning disabilities and autism affect millions of people in the UK. However, services and support for these individuals have been chronically underfunded for years, leading to negative outcomes for both patients and staff.

Recent figures show that only 2.6% of the overall NHS England budget goes towards funding learning disability and autism services. This is despite the fact that people with learning disabilities and autism have a right under the NHS Constitution to receive the care and support they need.

The impact of this underfunding is far-reaching. Long waiting lists for diagnoses and support services mean many people go years without the help they need. Care packages are often inadequate, leaving families struggling. There is also a severe shortage of housing, employment and community support options tailored for people with learning disabilities and autism.

•  A report by the London School of Economics found that investing £1.5 billion per year in community support services for people with learning disabilities could generate savings of £2.14 billion per year in healthcare and social care spending.
• Research by the NHS Confederation showed that for every £1 spent on empowering people with learning disabilities to live independently, £1.50 worth of savings is generated in reduced healthcare demand.
• A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry followed over 3,000 adults with autism for 10 years. It found a lack of adequate community support services directly correlated to much higher rates of physical and mental health comorbidities.
• Data from the Office for National Statistics shows adults with learning disabilities have a 58% higher rate of emergency hospital admissions compared to the general public. Improved community care could prevent many of these admissions.
• A report by the Care Quality Commission found that serious gaps in learning disability healthcare lead to avoidable hospitalizations and longer, more expensive stays when admitted.
• Research in the Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities modeled the potential healthcare cost savings of employment support programs for adults with autism. The savings ranged from £16,000 to £60,000 per person over their lifetime.

The evidence clearly shows investing in proactive care and support services for the learning disabled and autistic provides substantial direct healthcare savings, by preventing issues that would otherwise require hospitalizations and emergency interventions. This is on top of the vastly improved quality of life it provides.

For patients, a lack of proper care and support can severely impact their physical and mental health. They may experience social isolation, behavioral issues, mental health crises and poor physical health outcomes. This places enormous stress on patients and their families.

Staff also suffer under a system that is overstretched and under-resourced. Heavy caseloads lead to burnout. Recruitment and retention problems make it difficult to maintain adequate staffing levels. The emotional toll of being unable to provide the level of care and service staff would like takes its toll.

Urgent action is needed to address the chronic underfunding of these vital services. Increased investment would allow for reduced waiting lists, proper care packages, expanded housing and employment options, and sustainable staffing levels. Most importantly, it would lead to improved well-being and quality of life for millions of learning disabled and autistic people.

The government must make this a priority. Adequate support for the learning disabled and autistic is not only morally right, but economically prudent. Improved services can lead to reduced costs elsewhere in the NHS and social care system. Most importantly, a properly funded care system allows these individuals to live happier, healthier and more independent lives. That benefits not just them, but society as a whole.