LeDeR: learning from lives and deaths

Dr Emily Handley-Cole is a clinical psychologist, employed as the health improvement senior insight manager at NHS England, in the national Learning Disability and Autism team. She is personally and professionally passionate about supporting systems across the NHS to improve care, reduce health inequalities and prevent premature deaths amongst people with a learning disability, following the death of her brother Richard, who lost his life to a premature and preventable death in 2012, aged just 33, due to constipation after receiving poor-quality health and social care.

Rachel Snow-Miller is head of LeDeR in NHS England national Learning Disability and Autism team, with over 25 years of public sector experience including service improvement. She has previously worked as a director of commissioning for mental health learning disability and autism services, and has had a range of roles in the NHS, including in primary care workforce, where she introduced the role of clinical pharmacists in general practice. Rachel is passionate about reducing health inequalities and improving physical and mental health. She volunteers for a homelessness charity and is the vice chair of a housing Association.