#SpeakUp: Burton Street Foundation

Burton Street Foundation used a Healthwatch Sheffield Speak Up grant to explore the health experiences of 32 adults with mild to moderate learning disabilities who accessed its services. The project focused on people’s relationships with their GP, any health concerns they had and what support Burton Street could offer to help improve health and wellbeing. Most participants lived at home and were supported by family members to access healthcare. 

The majority of participants had visited a doctor within the previous year, most commonly for annual health checks or monitoring of long-term health conditions. Many people knew either the name of their GP or their surgery, and there was a noticeable link between knowing their doctor and feeling positive about attending appointments. However, discussing personal health concerns proved more difficult. While most initially said they had no worries about their health, further conversation often revealed concerns about existing conditions, suggesting that communication barriers, confidence and limited understanding of health issues may affect people’s ability to express their needs. 

Participants suggested a range of ways Burton Street could support healthier lifestyles, including exercise opportunities, healthy eating, health education, mental wellbeing activities, mindfulness, support with long-term conditions and practical advice about staying well. The findings highlighted the important role community organisations can play in helping people with learning disabilities understand their health, access services and make informed choices about their wellbeing. 

The report concluded that adults with learning disabilities would benefit from greater support to access healthcare and understand their own health needs. Key recommendations were to increase uptake of annual health checks by offering them in community settings such as Burton Street and to strengthen partnership working between learning disability organisations and statutory services to improve health education. Burton Street also outlined plans for a range of future projects covering healthy eating, mental wellbeing, eyesight, hearing, personal health, relationships and long-term conditions.