Disability: key points

• Disability is difficult to define and, therefore, the prevalence of disability is difficult to measure; however, it is critical to do both for reasons of policy, service provision and planning.
• It is important to understand the different definitions, and perceptions, of disability. 'Individual' definitions focus on the person and their impairment and functioning, whereas 'social' definitions emphasise the restriction imposed upon the person by their social and physical environment.
• In 2009/10, it was estimated that 22% of men and 26% of women (aged 16 years and over) in Scotland had a long-standing illness, health problem or disability.
• In May 2011, 8% of the working age population of Scotland (currently males aged 16-64 years and females aged 16-59 years (but gradually increasing to 64 from 2010)) were classed as unable to work due to illness/disability (in receipt of Employment Support Allowance which replaced Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on incapacity grounds in October 2008).
• The Better Together inpatient experience survey (2010) was analysed by disability in the Variations in Experiences report in 2011. Experience varied by disability type. People with a learning difficulty reported worse experience than others for 12 of the 56 questions, and people with a mental health problem reported worse experience on 33 of the questions. Both these groups were never more likely to report a positive experience. Those with deafness or severe hearing impairment were less likely than non-disabled people to report being told what was happening in a way they could understand a problem. Patients with a long-term condition were more likely to report a positive experience for 21 questions, and never less likely to report a positive experience.