Nicola Sturgeon is being urged to convene an urgent summit to look at the impact of covid-19 on disabled people after some saw essential support withdrawn overnight during the pandemic – and not restored since.

Campaigners are backing a new commissioner to stand up for disabled people and ensure their rights are “fully understood and protected”.

Nearly six in ten of the covid-19 deaths in Scotland have been people with a disability, according to research published in March.

Five major organisations that represent and support disabled people have written to Nicola Sturgeon saying there is an “urgent need” for a summit in light of the “often disproportionate” effects on disabled people.

As well as the direct impact on families and carers, they cite issues that include support services being closed, problems with isolation and mental health challenges.

The groups behind the letter say any summit should include not just key figures from the government and representatives from health, but also local government, third sector organisations, education and social security.

Signatories include Camphill Scotland, a collective body representing communities for people with learning disabilities across the country which has previously warned access to day services was becoming a “postcode lottery”.

The charity’s director, Emma Walker, said a commissioner for disabled people should be explored at the “earliest opportunity”.

She said: “The rights of disabled people should have been at the forefront of the pandemic response.

“Instead, we saw the long-term and immediate cancellations of much-needed (and safe) services, a lack of communication between decision makers and disabled people, and severe impacts on disabled people’s mental health and wellbeing.”

Professor Ian Welsh, who heads the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland, said a “significant proportion” of care packages had been withdrawn or cut back despite the Scottish government saying this should not happen.

Also in favour of a national summit are Scottish Care, which represents social care providers, communication disability charity Sense Scotland, and the Scottish Youth Parliament.

Angela Bonomy, Executive Director of Sense Scotland, said: “We have recently elected Scotland's most diverse Parliament - one that better reflects the society in which we live.

“Our hope is that our representatives in Parliament not only listen to the voices of disabled people and their families but help amplify those voices in their policy-making and decisions.”

Aaran McDonald, from the Scottish Youth Parliament, added: “The impacts of the covid-19 pandemic have not been felt equally, and many young disabled people have been disproportionately affected.

“Holding a national summit will create opportunities for the Scottish government to hear from those disabled people, their families, and other carers with lived experience and find ways to prioritise their rights in the recovery.”

Read more: Fears over ‘smokescreen’ day service cuts; Manifesto to mandate: the SNP on health & social care; Covid learning disability deaths three times higher

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