People who work in the health service have a huge impact on the lives of people with a learning disability.
The resources below will give you the tools to make sure you are making the adjustments needed to give great care to the people with a learning disability who come to you for support.
Easy read health information
We have made some
easy read
Easy Read is a way of making written information easier to understand. Pictures are usually added next to the writing.
health guides on our Getting help with your health page.
You can also find other easy reads about health on the Easy Health website
Useful health reports and resources
Death by indifference PDF report - This is a Mencap report on why we believe there is institutional
discrimination
Discrimination is when someone is treated differently (usually in a bad way) because of things like their disability or their
religion
Religion is to do with the things you believe about the world. For example you may believe there is a god or something else. Examples of religions are Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.
.
within the
NHS
The NHS is the National Health Service. The NHS gives free healthcare to everyone in the UK and includes things like your GP (doctors) surgery and hospitals.
, and why people with a learning disability get worse healthcare than non-disabled people.
Good health care for all PDF booklet - This is an easy read booklet, created by the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, about what you can expect from the NHS.
The hospital communication PDF book - A communication aid designed by Surrey Health Action to ensure people who have difficulties understanding and/or communicating get an equal service in hospital.
Mental Capacity Act PDF resource pack - Information for family carers of people with a learning disability around making decisions for their relative with profound and multiple disabilities (PMLD).
PMLD - top tips PDF - Top tips for supporting and meeting the needs of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).
Getting it right PDF charter - The Getting it right
charter
A charter is a piece of paper that says how things should be done.
, which we launched in 2010, with our key asks for hospital trusts to meet the needs of people with a learning disability.
Reasonable adjustments for people with a learning disability - Guides on how reasonable adjustments should be made to health services and adjustments to help people with learning disabilities to access services from Public Health England.
Mencap health related projects and information
Treat me well - Our
campaign
A campaign is when people work together to try to change something.
to transform how the NHS treats people with a learning disability in hospital.
The Mencap Pharmacy Project - Information on a project led by Mencap to improve pharmacy access for people with a learning disability.
Annual Health Checks - Find out about annual health checks and our Don’t Miss Out campaign.
Accessible Information Standard - An easy read guide explaining the
Accessible
Accessible means something is easy for people to use or join in with. For example: Accessible writing means the writing is easy to read and understand.
Information Standard.
Health - research and statistics - Take a look at what we know about health and people with a learning disability.
PMLD - Raising our Sights - Providing services for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).
PMLD - Postural care - A guide to the importance of postural care for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).
Diagnosis resource for healthcare professionals - This will help healthcare professionals support parents when they receive a learning diagnosis for their child.
Supporting children with a learning disability in hospital - A resource for hospital professionals.
Treat me well: Reasonable adjustments for people with a learning disability in hospital
The Mental Capacity Act - A page containing a resource pack to download.
Health resources and information from other organisations
STOMP - Stop Over Medication of People (STOMP) with a learning disability,
autism
Autism is a disability. Autistic people find it difficult to understand what other people think and feel. They also find it difficult to tell people what they think and feel. Everyone with autism is different.
or both; a campaign from NHS England.
Learning Disability Mortality Review (LeDeR) - Information from Bristol University about work aimed at making improvements to the lives of people with learning disabilities.
RightCare Pathways PDF - NHS RightCare Pathways guide about reasonable adjustments for people with a learning disability who have diabetes.
Makaton - Use Makaton cards and symbols to help communicate about health and healthcare.
We need you!
We know the treatment of people with a learning disability in hospital is still not good enough in many parts of the country.
Treat Me Well is our campaign to transform how the NHS treats people with a learning disability in hospital.
Find out how you can become a Treat me Well champion.