Strengthening the registered nurses in learning disabilities’ workforce can bring about real change and health improvements, but government needs to act

Registered nurses in learning disabilities (RNLDs) play a pivotal role in enhancing health outcomes, addressing inequalities and providing specialist services.

But without a strengthened workforce how are health improvements going to be made to stop people with learning disabilities dying on average 20 years younger than their non-learning disabled peers?

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In Why we must secure the future of learning disability nurses, co-written by people with learning disabilities, family members and RNLDs – the case for securing RNLDs is set out. It concludes by saying RNLDs are not an ‘optional extra’ but a ‘professional lifeline for thousands’.

Five-point recovery plan for registered nurses in learning disabilities

We believe the current trajectory of decline is not inevitable but is the result of sustained insufficient investment and focus. Government must act now with urgency, ambition and parity to secure the future of RNLDs and people with learning disabilities.

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In June Baroness Monckton raised an oral question about the government’s response to the RNLD workforce crisis in the House of Lords.

‘Saving learning disability nursing is not simply a workforce issue – it is a matter of justice, equity and human rights’

We also met care minister Stephen Kinnock to outline the scale of the crisis and present this five-point recovery plan:

1. Protect and expand RNLD education – secure funding for existing courses and reopen closed programmes.
2. Include RNLDs in all workforce planning – ensure representation and transparent reporting.
3. Deliver a national RNLD apprenticeship strategy – invest in inclusive training routes with central data tracking.
4. Establish national leadership and governance – appoint RNLD leaders in the Department of Health and Social Care and integrated care boards.
5. Introduce a Learning Disability Act – enshrine legal protections and a rights-based framework.

The need for coordinated national action is recognised and an application has been made for a special inquiry committee to scrutinise the workforce crisis, evaluate service delivery and produce actionable, cross-sector recommendations.

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Saving learning disability nursing is not simply a workforce issue – it is a matter of justice, equity and human rights. We welcome decisive action and a commitment to securing, and growing the future RNLD workforce.

Jessica Lister, learning disabilities consultant nurse, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, Stoke-on-Trent and chair of the UK  Learning Disabilities Consultant Nurse Network

Jim Blair, independent consultant nurse learning disability and associate professor learning disabilities, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames

Further reading

• Learning Disability Today (2025) Why we must secure the future of learning disability nurses. 
• King’s College London (2025) Learning from Lives and Deaths – people with a learning disability and autistic people (LeDeR).