The Scottish Executive’s Promoting Health, Supporting Inclusion report aims to address the fundamental health inequalities experienced by many children and adults with learning disabilities. Michael Brown takes a look at its main recommendations

The goal of the Scottish Executive, which took over responsibility for the country’s health and social care policy following devolution, is to reduce health inequalities and improve the lives of everyone in the country. Its review of services for people with learning disabilities, The Same As You?, called for all long-stay hospitals for people with learning disabilities to close by 2005 (Scottish Executive 2000). At present, fewer than 1,000 people with learning disabilities live in such hospitals in Scotland. Some institutions have already closed, and plans are being developed to shut the others. It is estimated that there are some 120,000 people with learning disability in Scotland, although precise figures are not available.