An Insight Into Health and Care Access, Including Self-Care, for Adults with a Learning Disability

This is a report by Healthwatch Essex. The topic is learning disability and how people access health and care services.

Focus groups and interviews were used in this project to gather people's feedback.

Mental health services were not found to be offering adeqate support. It was also difficult for those with additional needs to manage their own bookings with health services, meaning relatives had to offer support.

There are recommendations in this report.

• An inclusive communications drive to promote annual health checks, dental and eye check-ups.

• Ensuring that correct contact information is on the GP learning disability register.

• Explore the possibility of LD friendly/appropriate GP session times with reduced noise levels, less people in the waiting room etc.

• Having one point of contact for the adult and their support network will help to build a relationship and confidence with a medical professional.

• Focused training for frontline staff-receptionists as well as medical staff to raise awareness and understanding of people with LD and their needs. 

• Examples of good practise as highlighted in the Healthwatch Essex Part of Understanding Inequalities: Co-Designing accessibility to health services in Mid and South Essex.

There are no follow up actions in this report.