As Learning Disability Week shines a spotlight on the experiences of people with learning disabilities, new figures show that in May, half of all NHS inpatients with a learning disability and/or autism had been in hospital for more than two years.
This morning, NHS England published a statistical release on learning disabilities and autism (LDA) within a NHS services context, using data from the Assuring Transformation Collection (AT) and the Mental Health Services Dataset (MHSD). MHSD figures show that there were 2,030 inpatients with learning disabilities and/or autism at the end of May 2025.
The Assuring Transformation Collection and the Mental Health Services Dataset are statistical releases from NHS England tracking information about people with a learning disability or autism or both. Whilst AT uses information from the people who pay for hospital care, MHSD receives information from the hospitals who provide the hospital care.
The data from the Assuring Transformation collection reveals that, last month, there were 115 individuals with a learning disability and/or autism admitted to hospital, of these 60 were first admissions whilst 30 were readmissions and another 30 hospital transfers.
Additionally, the Mental Health Services Dataset indicated that 1,380 LDA individuals were admitted to hospital in April and 1,545 discharged.
The data team at Polimapper has visualised learning disabilities data to show health trends amongst the LDA population on a geographical level.
According to the Assuring Transformation collection the highest number of learning disability and autism patients was seen in the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, at 170 patients. Conversely, this was lowest in the Somerset ICB, at 10 LDA patients (May 2025).
About this map
The map below shows learning disability and autism health trends in England by Integrated Care Board. AT data refers to May 2025 and MHSD data refers to April 2025.
To view statistics in your area double click on the map or click here to launch the full page version.
Geodata context
This week marks Learning Disability Week, a national campaign aimed at raising awareness and understanding of the experiences of people with learning disabilities.
The theme for 2025, ‘Do you see me?’, calls for greater visibility, inclusion, and respect – ensuring that individuals with a learning disability are seen, heard, and valued in all areas of life.
The awareness week comes as the newly elected Labour government confirmed plans to reform disability benefits, prompting concern from disability rights groups about the potential impact on those already facing barriers to inclusion.
Jackie O’Sullivan, executive director of strategy and influence at the learning disability charity Mencap: “Today the Government confirmed the choice to turn its back on thousands of disabled people and by pushing ahead with these welfare reforms, they are causing a huge amount of anxiety.”
“Mencap’s recent survey of people with a learning disability found an alarming 70% would need to cut down on food if they lose PIP, while over half (60%) said they would need to cut back on heating and nearly half (45%) were worried they would be unable to leave their home. These stats paint a very grave picture of what’s to come for those who will lose PIP under the Government’s plans.”
“The Government needs to go back to the drawing board to work with disabled people on fixing the issues with the social security system in a way that does not leave anyone worse off.”
