Regulating doctors, ensuring good medical practice

Patients with learning disabilities receive poorer care, doctors' poll shows

Press Release

11 Apr 2012

Most doctors believe that patients with a learning disability receive poorer care than rest of the population, according to a poll commissioned by the General Medical Council.

We believe doctors will welcome this online training resource – in many cases the evidence suggests small changes in the way care is provided can have a big impact on the patient’s experience.

Niall Dickson, the Chief Executive of the GMC

More than one in three reported having personally seen a patient with a learning disability receive poorer care or face some form of discrimination.

The poll carried out by ICM also found doctors were keen to see more help being given in this area, with three-quarters indicating that online advice on treating patients with a learning disability would be useful.

The results come as the GMC launches an extensive new online resource offering practical advice for doctors treating this group of patients.

In preparing the website the GMC worked closely with people who have a learning disability and bodies that represent them, carers, doctors and experts. It includes advice on communication, seeking consent and assessing a patient’s needs.

Niall Dickson, Chief Executive of the General Medical Council said:

‘We know that too often patients who have a learning disability receive poorer treatment and that sometimes health professionals fail to see past the patient’s disability to identify underlying physical problems. We hope this advice and support will be useful to doctors and others who want to make sure patients with learning disabilities are given the best possible care and treatment.

‘We believe doctors will welcome this online training resource – in many cases the evidence suggests small changes in the way care is provided can have a big impact on the patient’s experience.’

Mark Goldring, Chief Executive of Mencap said:

‘It is clear from the GMC survey that many doctors recognise that the care of people with a learning disability is simply not good enough. It is not right that they continue to receive a poorer standard of healthcare than the rest of the population despite having greater health needs.

‘The GMC’s new online resource represents a commitment from the regulator to help tackle this problem. Their new initiatives will help ensure that doctors get the right support and guidance to provide individuals with a learning disability with healthcare that meets their needs. This will ultimately help to save lives.

‘The fact that so many healthcare professionals recognise they need to do more to get it right when treating people with a learning disability and want more help in this area clearly highlights the importance of this much needed resource and is to be welcomed.’

To visit the new website, please visit: http://www.gmc-uk.org/learningdisabilities/default.aspx

Notes to Editors

1. The GMC commissioned ICM to run the poll for us. The fieldwork took place in January 2012 with 400 doctors from around the UK, half GPs and half hospital doctors.

2. The GMC Media Relations Office can be contacted on 020 7189 5454, out of hours 020 7189 5444/ 07920 461497, email press@gmc-uk.org, website www.gmc-uk.org.

3. The General Medical Council registers and licenses doctors to practise medicine in the UK.

The law gives us four main functions:

  • keeping up-to-date registers of qualified doctors
  • fostering good medical practice
  • promoting high standards of medical education and training
  • dealing firmly and fairly with doctors whose fitness to practise is in doubt

4. The new online resource also offers a certificate for doctors to demonstrate the skills they have developed