Reasonable adjustments for people with a learning disability in hospital
About reasonable adjustments for people with a learning disability in hospital
Under the
Equality
Equality is when everyone is treated fairly.
Act 2010, all disabled people have the right to reasonable adjustments when using public services, including healthcare. These adjustments remove barriers that disabled people would otherwise face in accessing these services. Making reasonable adjustments means ensuring disabled people have equal access to good quality healthcare.
People with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
face sharp healthcare inequalities. 1,200 people with a learning disability die avoidably every year, when good healthcare could have saved their lives. People with a learning disability die on average 17 years younger than the general population. That's why making reasonable adjustments for people with a learning disability in hospital is so important.
Reasonable adjustments can be simple changes made by one healthcare professional, or they can be more complex and need multiple teams to work together. Making reasonable adjustments can mean removing barriers that people with a learning disability face, or providing something extra for someone with a learning disability to enable them to access the healthcare they need.
What reasonable adjustments do people with a learning disability need?
Every person is different, so the adjustments people with a learning disability need will differ from person to person. However, there are common adjustments that help lots of people with a learning disability.
Top 10 reasonable adjustments
- Speak clearly and use simple words. understanding. It is really important not to make assumptions that someone has understood information they have been given.
- Take your time. People with a learning disability may need a bit longer than other patients to be able to understand information they are given and to make themselves understood. Just ten extra minutes can make a big difference to many people.
- Work with supporters. This could be a
support worker
Support workers
Support workers are people who are paid to give care and support to people who need it.
are people who are paid to give care and support to people who need it.
or family member. Supporters can be really important, particularly for people with profound and multiple learning disability, but remember to talk to the person directly and support them to make decisions - supporters are there to help you do this! - Be flexible with appointment times. Many people with a learning disability will find it easier coming to hospital when it is quieter, so an appointment at the very beginning or very end of the day might make their appointment go more smoothly. They may also need an appointment at a time when their supporter is able to accompany them.
- Make sure people can get into and around the hospital. This includes ensuring there are no physical barriers for people using wheelchairs or with mobility issues, but also making sure signs in the hospital are as easy to understand as possible.
- Provide a quiet place to wait. Hospitals are often busy, noisy places and this can be overwhelming for many people with a learning disability. Having a quiet place to wait can prevent people getting anxious and having to leave the hospital. Many people also find waiting a long time very difficult.
- Listen to your learning disability liaison nurse. Most hospitals have learning disability liaison nurses who know lots about reasonable adjustments and can help you to support your patient. Ask your learning disability nurse if you know you will be seeing a patient with a learning disability.
- Use hospital passports. These are a patient-held, personalised record of what people with a learning disability have hospital passports and reading them will make your job a lot easier!
- Provide written information in
Easy Read
Easy Read is a way of making written information easier to understand. Pictures are usually added next to the writing.
format. This means people are much more likely to read and understand information about their appointments, procedures and results. This is also a requirement of the NHS's own
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. - Always ask the person what they need. Reasonable adjustments are about what the person in front of you needs and they know that better than anyone. and any family or carers with them and do your best to provide the support they need.
We have created an Easy Read version of the top 10 reasonable adjustments you can ask for.
Where can find more information about reasonable adjustments?
There is lots more information out there for you to read about reasonable adjustments.
- Mencap's Treat me well guides, including more detailed guides on how to make easy read information and how to support decision-making https://www.mencap.org.uk/TMWhospitalstaff
- NHS England https://www.england.nhs.uk/learning-disabilities/improving-health/reasonableadjustments/
-
Accessible Information Standard
The Accessible Information Standard is a rule for health and social care services that says they have to communicate with you in a way you can understand.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/accessibleinfo - Public Health England https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reasonable-adjustments-forpeople-with-learning-disabilities
- Care Quality Commission http://www.cqc.org.uk/about-us/our-strategy-plans/equality-human-rights
This resource was first created as part of Mencap's Treat Me Well
campaign
A campaign is when people work together to try to change something.
.
Last updated April 2024.