Learning Disabilities: Resources

For Clinicians

**HIGHLY RECOMMENDED** For comprehensive easy to read leaflets and videos for patients with LD which cover a range of health and wellbeing issues. You will also find on this webpage an "easy read" version of an invite letter to send patients.
Information for Primary Care staff :: Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust 

For a good overview of learning disabilities and how GPs can help watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLn4qEM5X4c

Detailed overview of the electronic health clinical template
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/nat-elec-health-check-ld-clinical-template.pdf

For training in LD
https://www.gmc-uk.org/learningdisabilities/
http://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/page/view.php?id=3927

For Syndrome Specific Medical health check guide see the RCGP toolkit
https://www.rcgp.org.uk/clinical-and-research/resources/toolkits/health-check-toolkit.aspx
Downs Syndrome, Cerebral palsy, Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Rett Syndrome and Williams Syndrome are all referenced

For patients with Down's Syndrome there is some advice on the annual health checks here

**HIGHLY RECOMMENDED**Surrey Health action plan - aimed at people living in Surrey but much of the resources are equally relevant to Wessex residents.  This resource has useful phrasing of questions and a template to make bespoke easy to read leaflets for surgeries. http://www.surreyhealthaction.org/

The University of Hertfordshire has produced a guide called understanding intellectual disability and health http://www.intellectualdisability.info

Communication toolkit to aid communication with patients with LD – needs purchasing http://www.asist.co.uk/shop/category/communication-toolkits

For patient with learning disabilities and sight loss: SeeAbility 

Obesity and weight management and people with learning disabilities

Constipation management in people with learning disabilities

For information on "stopping over medication of people with learning disabilities" (STOMP) see here

For easy to read patient sheets on a full range of subjects please see this great resource -  https://widgit-health.com/easy-read-sheets/index.htm. There is a useful resource on "my medication review" which patients can fill in prior to their AHC.

B0467_i_sensory-friendly-resource-pack.pdf (england.nhs.uk)

Learning / Intellectual Disabilities - Audio & Video Podcasts and Recorded Webinars

For LD Patients and their Carers

HEE produces new guides to help people with learning disabilities and autism

**HIGHLY RECOMMENDED** For comprehensive easy to read leaflets and videos for patients with LD which cover a range of health and wellbeing issues
Information for Primary Care staff :: Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust

Videos for patients with LDs about Annual Health Checks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gANZupyBHM&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4T9QrUchTU&t=  a video by the misfits theatre company about how social care providers can support people with LDs to get on the GP register and have health care checks

Leaflets for patients with LD explaining annual health checks:
https://www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/files/2017-06/AHC%20Easy%20Read%20Guide%20Final.pdf

A picture of health is a NHS resource to help clinicians provide easy to read information to patients with LD http://www.apictureofhealth.southwest.nhs.uk/

Become a Learning Disability Friendly Practice

This Hampshire initiative is led by the Southern Health Strategic Health Facilitators.

Click here for more information on how to access the toolkit and support to work towards the award.  

Reasonable Adjustments

The NHS has to make it as easy for disabled people to use health services as it is for people who are not disabled. This is called making reasonable adjustments. Read more on this here: NHS England » Reasonable adjustments