Healthcare best practice guide launched

Thursday 11 December 2008

‘Getting it right' is produced by Mencap and leading health bodies.

Prominent health organisations, including the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal Society of Medicine, have joined forces with Mencap to produce a best practice guide for health professionals. The guide, ‘Getting it right', focuses on improving healthcare for people with a learning disability and is accompanied by an interactive website.

The health bodies, which represent over one million health professionals in the UK, came together in response to the publication of Mencap's ‘Death by indifference' report, which exposed the shocking deaths of six people with a learning disability who died unnecessarily in NHS care. ‘Getting it right' reflects the health organisations' support for the Death by indifference campaign, which aims to stop discrimination against people with a learning disability in NHS care.

Mark Goldring, Mencap's chief executive, said: "The ‘Death by indifference' report proved that people with a learning disability receive poorer healthcare than the general population and in some cases experience unnecessary pain and death.

"Mencap welcomes the support of the organisations involved and their recognition that something needs to be done. We hope that all health professionals use this practical resource to improve the level of healthcare given to people with a learning disability."

Martin Bollard, vice chair of the ‘Getting it right' group representing the Royal College of General Practitioners, added: "The ‘Getting it right' guide represents what can be achieved when different health bodies collaborate effectively on behalf of vulnerable members of society. With the continued efforts of the groups who have developed this guide, it is hoped that the future risk of fatalities and discrimination against people with learning disabilities within mainstream healthcare can be reduced."

Visit the ‘Getting it right' website