A coalition of Queensland-based disability advocates has called for action on the health inequalities faced by people with intellectual disability, ahead of the state’s election this weekend.
The joint statement was released by Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN), Queensland Centre of Excellence in Autism and Intellectual Disability Health (QCEAIDH), Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability (ASID) Queensland Branch, WWILD Sexual Violence Prevention Association Inc., Parent to Parent Association Inc., Down Syndrome Queensland, Community Living Association, Endeavour Foundation, Multicap and Health Consumers Queensland.
The statement notes that all Queenslanders have the right to equitable access to healthcare, but that Queenslanders living with intellectual disability die 27 years earlier than the wider population, experience more than twice the rate of potentially avoidable deaths and four times the rate of avoidable hospitalisations.
“Healthcare for people with disability is crucial to enable individuals to live full, purposeful, and meaningful lives, including accessing education, employment, housing and creating a connection to community. However, people with intellectual disability do not have access to quality health care,” the statement says.
The statement asks for political parties to immediately commit to:
- Provide funding to extend the role of new specialised intellectual disability mental health teams across the state to broaden to physical health in each Hospital and Health Service.
- Provide funding to extend the role of the Queensland Centre of Excellence in Intellectual and Developmental Disability Mental Health (delivered by Queensland Centre of Excellence in Autism and Intellectual Disability Health) to broaden its scope to physical health in addition to its existing focus on mental health.
- Establish procedural support and sedation services in each Hospital and Health Service across the state for people with intellectual disability who require additional support to access investigations for their health care including dental care.
- Introduce the requirement for mandatory training in intellectual and developmental disability for Hospital and Health Service staff.
- Enhance access to palliative care, including ensuring people have choice about palliation at home and in shared living arrangements, for people with intellectual disability.
- Ensure availability of Easy Read and other accessible health information for people with intellectual disability that is culturally inclusive.
No formal support yet, as advocates vow to keep pushing
Michelle Moss, CEO of QDN, told Link that no political parties had yet formally committed to the actions outlined in the joint statement – although some had indicated support.
She added the organisations behind the statement would work with politicians after the election to put the health needs of people with intellectual disability on the agenda – and implement solutions.
“As an alliance of 10 organisations who have a long history of work in this area, we will continue our advocacy efforts by engaging with government representatives at both state and federal levels,” Moss said.
“It is critical that we see these translate into action and we will work alongside allied organisations, Government, healthcare professionals, and community groups to keep the issue at the forefront of political priorities.”
Moss said it was crucial to take advantage of the state election to create positive change for Queenslanders with intellectual disability by bringing the health inequalities they face, into the spotlight.
“The Disability Royal Commission has shone a public light on the issues through the people who came forward and shared their stories. The time to take action is now,” she said.
Read the full statement online.