Help us tackle poor care for people with learning disabilities

It is unacceptable that people with learning disabilities sometimes do not receive the right care and treatment for health problems unrelated to their disability.

This was highlighted in an independent review* which reported in 2008 and there is evidence that this remains a problem.

More than a third of doctors in a recent poll** reported that they had witnessed a patient with a learning disability facing direct discrimination.  

We have developed a learning disabilities website with practical tools to help doctors, and other members of the healthcare team, understand the needs of patients with learning disabilities better.  

It sets out the key issues doctors need to consider when treating a patient who has a learning disability. For example, it gives guidance on communication, seeking consent and assessing and maximising the patient’s capacity to consent.     

We developed the site in consultation with people who have a learning disability, organisations representing them (including Mencap and BILD), carers and health professionals.  

Doctors can either use the site as a two-minute refresher before a consultation or for more in depth learning.    

*Sir Jonathan Michael and the Independent Inquiry into Access to Healthcare for People with Learning Disabilities, 2008, Healthcare for all: report of the independent inquiry into access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities

**ICM poll of doctors, unpublished research, January 2012.