UK
Boost in funding for learning disabilities services in UK
By Pankaj, US correspondent
Feb 18, 2005, 16:54

Services for people with learning disabilities are set to receive over �41 million in Government funding, Stephen Ladyman, Minister with responsibility for community announced today.

This boost in funding has been allocated to Primary Care Trusts to provide services through the Learning Disabilities Development Fund (LDDF) and is almost double the amount received last year. The LDDF is an important mechanism for ensuring that the NHS funding which would have supported residents in long stay hospitals under earlier regimes is used to achieve the objectives of Valuing People.

Stephen Ladyman said:

�I am very pleased to announce that funding for the Learning Disabilities Development Fund has almost doubled for the coming year.

�These funds are intended to support the implementation of the Government white paper �Valuing People�, which sets out a wide ranging programme of action to improve services for people with learning disabilities based on four key principles � rights, independence, choice and inclusion.

�By doubling the amount of money given to Primary Care Trusts, I hope to ensure that existing areas of work will continue to be priorities for health and social care services in addition to the three new areas which will extend the reach of Valuing People. �

Priority areas earmarked for funding in previous years have been:

� Advocacy � developing and expanding services to support people to speak up,
� Person Centred Planning � a way of helping people get what they want in their life, starting with the person, their wishes and aspirations, and
� Leadership � developing and supporting leadership, including people with learning disabilities, families and others providing support.

For 2005-06 there are 3 additional priorities which reflect the significant increases in funding. These are:

� Day services modernisation
� NHS Campuses reprovision � redevelopment of the residential services developed by the NHS as a result of the contraction or closure of NHS hospitals, and
� Support for people with learning disabilities from black and minority ethnic communities.

The third annual report on the progress Government departments have made in implementing Valuing People and ensuring that people with learning disabilities are more fully included in society will be published later this year


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