Do you see me? Improving health for people with learning disabilities

People with learning disabilities make up 2.5% of the population. Unfortunately, they often face poorer health outcomes, reduced life expectancy, and multimorbidity, with many dying more than 20 years younger than the general population. Common health issues like epilepsy or constipation are part of daily practice in primary care, but do we really 'see' people with learning disabilities? Or are these conditions only managed by clinicians with a special interest?

We explore ways of improving the care you provide to patients with learning disabilities.

Here are our tips

Find your patients

2.5% of people have a learning disability. How many are on your list? We now look at how people manage daily tasks, not just test scores. Use inclusion tools to help find patients who need extra support.

Make reasonable adjustments

Once you know someone has a learning disability, make changes and write them down:

• Let people book appointments the way they prefer.
• Some need carers to help with booking or communication.
• Give longer appointments.
• Write easy-to-read letters using tools like the NHS Medical Document readability tool.
• Set up computer alerts so staff know what helps each person.
• Use the reasonable adjustment digital flag in your practice.

Include patients

People with learning disabilities should help make decisions about their care. Work out what's best for each person and include them as much as possible. Ask family or carers for help when needed.

Annual health checks

Review the quality of your learning disability annual health checks. Do clinicians have enough time to address patients' complex needs? Do you have links to appropriate resources for conditions which are more likely to affect people with a learning disability such as dysphagia?

Get the practice involved

The whole team needs to be involved, from appointments and the front desk to clinicians. Consider:

• Having a champion for learning disabilities in your practice.
• Utilising care coordinators or support workers.
• Building links with the community learning disability team.
• Participating in local learning disability-friendly practice schemes.

Improve your knowledge

Make sure your team knows what they're doing:

• Complete mandatory learning disability and autism training.
• Contact your regional NHS England or ICB learning disability clinical leads for teaching and support.

Become an expert

If you want to develop your expertise:

• Look at the PGCERT course in Medical Practice in Adult Learning Disability at Edge Hill University
• Join the RCGP Learning Disability special interest group - over 100 GPs who share ideas and meet four times a year.

Make a difference today

As GPs, we can improve care for people with learning disabilities. Let's work together to make sure people are ‘seen for what they can do and not what they can't do.’