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Learning Disability Week success
Thursday 15 July 2010
Support the 'Getting it right' campaign for equal healthcare for people with a learning disability
Learning Disability Week 2010 took place between 21-27 June. This year the week focused on Mencap's 'Getting it right' campaign to improve the rights of people with a learning disability to equal healthcare.
Mencap's ‘Getting it right' charter has been developed with several Medical Royal Colleges and sets out the adjustments that healthcare professionals need to make when treating someone with a learning disability.
Throughout the week, supporters got involved by watching Mencap's new campaign film online and asking health authorities to sign up to the charter. So far, more than 40 healthcare authorities have done so.
Healthcare organisations, including the General Medical Council and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, gave their support to the campaign. And celebrities including Dr Hilary Jones from GMTV, Dr Chris Steele from This Morning and TV presenter Donal MacIntyre (pictured) got behind 'Getting it right'.
By law, all healthcare professionals have a duty to make 'reasonable adjustments' when treating people with a learning disability. Yet according to new research by Mencap, almost half of doctors (46%) and a third of nurses (37%) admit that people with a learning disability receive a poorer standard of healthcare than the rest of the population.
To help health professionals get it right, Mencap launched a series of resources for professionals, including guidance on how to implement the charter and a video interview with Jim Blair, a learning disabilities nurse.
Getting it right
On Tuesday 22 June, around 40 MPs and Peers showed their support for the ‘Getting it right' charter at a special launch event in Westminster, hosted by Mencap's president, Lord Rix, and Tom Clarke MP. Members of Mencap's learning disability panel shared their thoughts on the evening in a blog.
In Northern Ireland more than 60 people attended a launch event for the charter. There was also a petition signing at the Kennedy Centre in Belfast and an awareness day at Belfast Metropolitan College.
In Wales, Mencap Cymru held a reception to launch 5 web videos on annual health checks for people with a learning disability. And Mencap's royal patron, the Countess of Wessex, visited Bangor University, which has a growing relationship with Mencap Cymru.
The Countess met members of the university's psychology and sports science departments who have been involved in PhDs and other research projects linked to Mencap Cymru. She also met the football team for people with a learning disability that represented Mencap Cymru at a tournament in Switzerland.
Esther Foreman, Mencap's campaigns manager, said: "We would like to thank everyone that took part in Learning Disability Week and supported the launch of 'Getting it right'. Your campaigning has sent a powerful message that people with a learning disability deserve equal rights to healthcare."
Go to www.mencap.org.uk/gettingitright to watch a campaign film, download the 'Getting it right' charter and ask your health authority to support the campaign
Comments
I work with people with LD and there are +++++++ issues with regards to care but I would like to thank 3 members of a nursing team: Mr Dymun, Sister Mason and Sister Anglin-Smith for their dedication in ensuring that they do give people with LD a +ve experience They have made a difference. Its the medical staff that do need to stop playing 'god'
my son has lerning disabilaty and when he got to 16 years old and was discharged from hospitaldocter has try to get help with but now one to see him with his medicashon
Tomorrow I have an interview for learning disabilities nurse training at a well known university who is strongly commited to the cause of those with LD's, I hope the rest of the NHS I may come across is too!!
I would like to add some positive feedback as regarding student nurses. I am currently in my first year of my training, this whole year so far has been a massive learning curve,with the inclusion of all the other branches of nursing like Children's,Mental Health and finally Learning disabilities. It has shocked me that within the health profession there are people who do not know how to provide care to the most vulnerable of our society.I am grateful that we have been given the opportunity to get an insight into the various needs of the people we may have contact with whilst doing our job.
I agree that poor commissioning and lack of training is a big issue when people with a learning disability present at hospital or are referred to community services. I , as a trained nurse recieved No training whatsoever in anything to do with learning deisabilities yet I trained as an general nurse. As a nurse I am horrified at the attitude of some health professionals who still describe patients with a learning disability as being "educationally sub- normal". As a nurse, I wonder and reel at how out of touch they are, how little knowledge they have and ashamed that my fellow colleagues, and as a mum, whose 39yr old son has severe learning disabilities; I feel insulted, dissapointed, disgusted , dismayed and not a little angry.
My son's GP recently referred him to our local PCT in Liverpools, Community dietetics dept and recieved a letter of apology to say there is no funding to see him and that at present they are only seeing patients who are involved with the local mental health teams. He has a genuine health problem and needs the support of a dietician. I duly made a formal complaint through PALS. Considering this is learning disabilities week it makes me think those who are in a position to make a difference for people with learning disabilaties need to take action instead of paying lip service.
Those who develop nurse training should ensure the student nurses have some meaningfull training and knowlege built within their training programmes and that goes for doctors and nurses, radiogra[phers, O/Ts and physios etc. .
PCt's and hospital A&E's need to employ a learning disabilities nurse. I shudder to think how my son would be cared for if I were not around, should he have to go to hospital. GOD FORBID.
My uncle David died while in Good Hope Hospital which is in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham. My uncle was 61 and had Down Syndrome; we were repeatably told that "because of his condition you should let him go". The nurses were great to him and treated him with the same respect as any other patient; the wards lead doctor however was a disgrace! He couldn't justify spending the time on him when he already has had such a long life when compared to other people who suffer with Down Syndrome.
We have now removed any reference to Salford Royal Hospital. Thank you for bringing this to our attention and apologies for the error and any inconvenience caused.
May I please bring to your attention the error that has been made regarding Salford Royal Foundation Trist in your press briefing.
Unfortunately Mr Eaton sustained an injury whilst in NHS care but NOT at Salford Royal. He was transferred into Salford Royal for specialist care. The coroners comments surrounding his care were not directed at Salford Royal Foundation Trust.
We have worked extremely hard over the past 3 years working with our partners across Salford to ensure we deliver appropriate care to this vulnerable group of patients.
We are very proud of the achievements to date and continue to improve and deliver care to all our patients that we believe is safe, clean and personal.
It's unfortunate that the media have today reported nurses and Doctors belief that people with learning disabilities receive poorer care, as "discrimination". I (as a nurse) agree that care is poorer for people with learning disabilities, and feel that this is because professionals are trained to care for people with learning disabilities separately from other disciplines. people with Learning disabilities access the whole NHS yet only tiny numbers of profesionals, usually working in social care rather than A&E, X-ray, GP services are trained to meet their needs. This is an issue of poor commissioning, and a lack of training for mainstream services, signifying discrimination on the part of commissioners rather than hands on professionals.