Lack of learning-disability nurses in UK is an ‘absolute crisis’, says union

The specialist learning-disability nurse workforce in the UK is facing an "absolute crisis" with a one-third reduction in numbers since 2009, according to a report by the Royal College of Nursing. The review indicates that the number of these nurses employed by the NHS dropped from 7,083 in 2009 to 4,768 in 2026. This significant decline is leaving approximately 1.5 million vulnerable adults with learning disabilities without their legal right to equitable access to essential health and care services, highlighting a consistent undermining of this crucial specialism.