Developed as part of DECODE – a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)-funded project led by Loughborough University and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, the tool could help prevent avoidable deaths.

‘I 100% believe this work will save lives, empower healthcare professionals, and improve the quality of life for people with learning disabilities and their carers,' said Professor Thomas Jun, co-lead of DECODE and an expert in sociotechnical system design at Loughborough University.

‘We are now hoping to secure funding so we can further develop and test the tool. We feel we are halfway towards creating real change.'

People with learning disabilities die, on average, 20 years earlier than the general population with 39% of deaths deemed avoidable - nearly double the rate seen in the wider population.

Using information such as age, sex and existing health conditions, the digital healthcare tool shows which health conditions a person may be more likely to develop and when, based on what has been observed in people with similar health profiles.

DECODE researchers believe the tool could help save lives by enabling healthcare professionals to spot potential health problems earlier and work with people with learning disabilities and their carers to take preventative action.