Press Release

Learning disability consultation offers opportunity that must be taken says United Response

4th December 2007

Responding to the publication today of the Government's consultation document, 'Valuing People Now', Su Sayer, chief executive of United Response said:

"We welcome the consultation "Valuing People Now" and the clear statement from the Govermnent that the principles of rights, independence, choice and inclusion should continue to set the framework for policy and service provision for people with learning disabilities. In particular we welcome the emphasis on personalisation to enable more people to have genuine choice and control in their lives and the commitment to improve equality of access to mainstream health services.

"We hope the emphasis on "making it happen", for example through strengthening the role of learning disability partnership boards and improving local service commissioning, will ensure that the aspirations in the consultation paper are translated into effective action. There has been enormous progress since the publication of the Valuing People white paper nearly seven years ago in improving the lives of people with learning disabilities. However, as the paper itself notes, there is more to do, such as closing the hospital campuses the Health Care Commission has itself condemned, and helping more people into paid employment.

"These are all important and necessary objectives, which is why it is important that they are matched by the right resources. We and other like-minded organisations will seek to work closely with the Government and local authorities to ensure that the progressive and transformational agenda laid out today becomes a practical reality. This is a real opportunity to give people with learning disabilities a better life, and it must be taken."