Jane Dodds has called on the Welsh Government to do more to help people with learning disabilities.

The Mid and Wales MS said at the Senedd that it was shocking that people with learning disabilities in Wales die, on average, 20 years younger than the general population, with the most common age of death being just 67.

She said: “Nearly four in 10 of these deaths are considered avoidable, meaning people could still be alive today if they had received the right care at the right time.

“This is nothing short of an outrage and discriminatory. Despite annual health checks being added to the GP contract last April, a report from Mencap last week shows that over a quarter of people with learning disabilities were not offered a health check in the past year.

“I'd like to talk about the closure last year of Powys People First, an organisation that advocated on behalf of people with learning disabilities.

“Without this vital community effort, health checks risk becoming little more than a tick box.”

Ms Dodds asked First Minister, Eluned Morgan, to ensure that people with learning disabilities get annual health checks and have access to advocacy and community support through third sector organisations, and to ensure that adults with learning disabilities do not die so young.

Ms Morgan sid the Government has a very clear plan - the Learning Disability Strategic Action Plan.

She told Ms Dodds: “This was published in 2022. I'm very pleased to say that 33 out of the 35 actions have already been completed.

“The other two have been adapted or amended as a result of changing priorities as a result of Covid.

“We all read that report, of how people with learning disabilities in particular suffered more than others during Covid, and it's important that we respond to that.

“What we'll be doing next is to set out what we're planning to do to respond to that Stolen Lives Wales 'Homes not Hospitals' report that has been written by the learning disability ministerial advisory group.

“They, I'm sure, will have a lot to say about the annual health checks. I will make sure that the written statement that is going to be published next week refers to annual health checks.”