Learning disability deaths could be cut by annual GP visit

“I feel angry because there’s a lot of people passed away from not having a health check – that’s very important to them, to see if they are OK,” he said.

The checks have been available in Wales for a number of years, but not everywhere, and take up fell after the pandemic.

“I would like to see it rolled out in every surgery in the future,” added the 39-year-old from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, who works with Cwm Taf People First, a charity run by and for those with learning disabilities.

During appointments a doctor will “take your blood pressure, talk about your weight, things like that. Basically like a car MOT”, he explained.

So as a health champion, working with a number of local organisations, what’s his experience of health care?

“Some (staff) are good in a hospital, some need a bit more training, to treat disabled people more equally,” he said.

“But some doctors they do so many big, big words. Because I can’t understand them half the time – they should break the words gradually.”