Learning from Lives and Deaths (LeDeR): What the Care Community Needs to Know
At Qualis Solutions, we believe that quality care is inseparable from equity, safety, and dignity. That is why we want to shine a light on the findings of the LeDeR (Learning from Lives and Deaths) programme, led by King’s College London, which examines the lives and deaths of people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
The latest LeDeR report is not just a document; it is a wake-up call for everyone in health and social care. It reminds us of the urgent responsibility we share to address health inequalities and embed systemic change.
What is LeDeR?
Launched nationally in 2017, LeDeR reviews the circumstances of deaths among people with learning disabilities and autistic people. Its aim is to:
Understand the factors contributing to premature mortality
Highlight health inequalities
Support improvements in care delivery
Prevent avoidable deaths through system-wide learning
The 2023 report, alongside accessible summaries and thematic “deep dives,” is available here:
LeDeR 2023 Main Report & News Release — includes key findings and download links for main report (King's College London)
Appendix — LeDeR 2023 — detailed supplementary tables and methods (King's College London)
Take-Home Messages / Infographic (PDF) — summary of headline findings in infographic / digest form (King's College London)
Action From Learning Report 2022/23 — how systems have responded to LeDeR findings (leder.nhs.uk)
NHS England — LeDeR overview — official guide, scope, process, and role of ICS / local systems (NHS England)
Key Findings
The report paints a stark picture:
Premature mortality remains high: Adults with learning disabilities die, on average, 20 years earlier than the general population. (King's College London)
Preventable conditions are common: Many deaths are linked to respiratory and circulatory diseases, where earlier interventions and better care could have made a difference. (King's College London)
Reasonable adjustments are inconsistent: Missed opportunities to adapt care — such as accessible communication, extended consultations, or tailored support — are a recurring theme. (King's College London)
Geographical variation: Some regions show stronger practice and outcomes, highlighting both inequalities and opportunities for shared learning. (King's College London)
The full report is candid: this is not about individual error, but systemic gaps in healthcare and social care provision.
Why This Matters for the Care Sector
As a consultancy working alongside providers across the UK, we see every day how regulation, commissioning, and frontline practice intersect. LeDeR’s findings should prompt every care provider to ask difficult questions:
Are we capturing the lived experiences of people with learning disabilities and autistic people?
Do our audits and quality reviews measure equity, not just compliance?
How robust are our feedback loops and governance structures when failures are identified?
Are we embedding reasonable adjustments as a matter of course, not exception?
At Qualis Solutions, we view this as a sector-wide challenge — and an opportunity. LeDeR gives us evidence, direction, and tools to accelerate change.
How Providers Can Respond
Here are practical steps the wider care community can take, inspired by LeDeR’s recommendations:
Embed equity into governance: Track and report on health outcomes for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
Strengthen learning cultures: Move away from blame towards structured reflection, adopting LeDeR-style reviews of adverse events.
Prioritise accessibility: Make adjustments standard practice, from communication aids to longer consultation slots.
Engage with co-production: Involve people with lived experience in shaping policies, training, and audits.
Share learning across regions: Where disparities exist, collaboration and benchmarking can drive improvements.
A Call to Action
LeDeR is not simply a report to be filed away — it is a call for all of us in the care sector to reflect, adapt, and act. The data is sobering, but it also points toward solutions.
At Qualis Solutions, we are committed to helping providers translate these lessons into action: whether through audit frameworks, training, tender responses, or compliance support.
We encourage everyone in the care community to read the 2023 LeDeR Report and related materials, reflect on the findings, and ask: What can we do differently tomorrow to close the gap in care for people with learning disabilities and autism?
