Making a referral to Rachel’s voice

We encourage all who believe they fit the criteria to contact Mencap for a referral

We are one of the few organisations in the UK who are exclusively working to address the healthcare inequalities which lead to avoidable deaths of people with learning disabilities.

Making a referral to us helps to build data on the experiences of the people at the heart of this project and helps us understand where practices can improve where a death has occurred; allowing us to focus our casework and campaigns on the most systemic issues.

While we may be unable to take all cases as long-term casework, we endeavour to offer initial advice and triage to all cases referred to us.

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Who do we take cases from?

Whether we can advise you is largely dependent on the facts and circumstances of your case as well our capacity. We are also limited by the range of our expertise. So for instance, we do not advise on complaints around treatment in mental health units nor on complaints around mental health treatment generally.

Typically Rachel’s voice advises on cases involving the deaths of people who have received treatment in an Acute hospital setting within 30 days of their death, and who had a learning disability. In addition, we expect that the death is related in some way to mismanagement of their healthcare needs, most likely because of a failure to accommodate their learning disability.

Our criteria and expertise mean that we are unable to take on cases where deaths are related to failures in:

  • Mental health treatment

  • Treatment in mental health units

We recommend that if your case relates to a purely mental health treatment issue you contact any of the following organisations that have a strong and highly reputable history of providing support and advice in this field:

How to refer to Rachel’s voice

Referrals are made to our partners at Mencap, who then send the referral to volunteer lawyers at Fieldfisher.

Referrals are made through:

  • Completing the Mencap helpline online form

  • emailing helpline@mencap.org.uk (please put name of the person the case concerns and Rachel’s Voice referral in the subject line)

  • Calling 0808 808 1111 between 10am and 3pm Monday-Friday

Those making referrals to us must agree to:

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