We know that  people with a learning disability are among the most marginalised individuals within our local communities.

They are more likely to experience mental health needs, dementia, psychological distress and anxiety, respiratory conditions, diabetes and epilepsy. Around 50% of the learning disability population will have at least one significant long-term health condition The identification of health need is often delayed and may result in late stage diagnosis and poorer prognosis. Too often people with a learning disability present in health crisis and access urgently sought, bed-based services for conditions that may have been more proactively managed through robust care coordination.

Programmes of work are underway to reduce these health inequalities. Using co-production we are working closely with experts and carers to redesign services in order for people to experience more control over their care and achieve longer, happier and healthier lives.

We have put into place a system of Care and Treatment Reviews that provide care closer to home, by avoiding the use of locked hospital placements wherever possible or helping people to receive care within their local communities at the first available opportunity. We have worked together to design and deliver education to improve awareness of the causes of premature death for people with a learning disability and support preventative action.

Reasonable adjustments

Under the Equality act 2010, organisations have a legal duty to make changes in their approach or provision to ensure that services are as accessible to people with disabilities as they are for everybody else. These changes are called reasonable adjustments.

For more information about reasonable adjusments, read our care plan. Just click on the link below:

Reasonable adjustment care plan

Alternatively, you can watch this helpful video if you prefer

 

The Learning Disability Register Inclusion Tool is a checklist for GPs to assist them in identifying a person with a learning disability. By registering their patients, they can ensure that their needs are met during health care appointments.

Learning Disability Register Inclusion Tool

Below are some useful videos on healthcare for those with an intellectual disability.

Health Is Everybody's Responsibility
Vaccines
Information for Health Professionals 

This page brings together guidance, tools, and resources from the NHS and trusted partners to support healthcare professionals. We do not own this content and are not responsible for its accuracy or how it is used.

If you are the owner of any material on this site and would like it removed, or if you have resources you'd like to share, please contact marie.gibson@nhs.net.

Resources are for general professional use and should not replace clinical judgement. Always follow local policies and guidance where relevant.

 Learning Disability Lunchtime Learning Sessions - We're excited to announce the launch of our primary care education sessions, beginning June 12th 2025, hosted by the training hub.

 

Learning Disability Annual Health Checks and Health Action Plans :: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care System contains resources to help support the Annual Health Check (AHC), creation of Health Action Plans (HAP) and Learning Disability and Autism resources in general.

Annual Health Check survey

CSI - Learning Disabilities - AHC & HAP template 

 

Here are some useful resources on Syndrome specific checks and Learning disability:

A limited number of slots are still available for any GP practices who wish to book a free LD Annual Health Check Audit in 2025/26. These audits provide personalised recommendations and coaching about how GP practices can improve their professional practice around the completion of annual health checks for people with a Learning Disability. They are completed by Cate Lamport, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and subject specialist (Cate.Lamport@nhs.net). LD Annual Health Check Audits benefit practices in the following ways:

 

  • They are offered at no financial cost to practices and professionals can undertake these whilst they are completing an LD Annual Health Check.
  • The audit can be used as evidence for CQC inspections to demonstrate how a practice is performing to reduce health inequalities.
  • They are a supportive way of supporting practices to identify high impact improvements to Annual Health Checks.
  • The DES and LD AHC LiS contracts include financial incentives to for local practices who complete annual health checks to an appropriate standard.

For Parent and Carers

Common health conditions: Some useful advise

Here are some helpful online resources about the impact of Dementia

Here are some useful online resources on diabetes and learning disabilities.

Here are some useful online resources about hearing and learning disabilities: 

SeeAbility useful information for looking after your eyesight

Importance of eye tests video AD version -Ten times more likely - Audio described - SeeAbility

There is further useful information on the diabetes section of this page.

Here are some useful online resources on heart health and learning disabilities:

 
General Medical Advice

Here are some useful resources on vaccines and learning disability:

 
General Good Health

Here are some useful resources on staying healthy and learning disability:

 

Here are some useful online resources on Men's health and learning disabilities:

Here are some useful online resources on Tansgender health and learning disabilities:

 

Here are some useful online resources on teenage health and learning disabilities: