The document summarizes background information on healthcare inequalities faced by people with learning disabilities. It then outlines the work of the "Getting it Right" group, which aims to improve healthcare professionals' ability to treat people with learning disabilities. The group is made up of various organizations and produces guidance on communicating effectively with people with learning disabilities and understanding their rights. It concludes by mentioning an update on challenging behavior.

1. Getting it Right for People with Learning Disabilities Genevieve Smyth College of Occupational Therapists 6 th November 2008

2. Introduction Background Current project work Future work Challenging Behaviour update

3. Background investigations Mencap’s Treat me right report and campaign (2004) Health inequalities in the UK Mencap (2007) Death by Indifference. Mencap, London. Six case studies all resulting in avoidable death National disgrace, institutionalised discrimination A wake up call for the NHS Health Ombudsman independent enquiry

4. Background investigations Disability Rights Commission (2006) Equal Treatment: Closing the Gap . Disability rights commission, London. Health inequalities for people with learning disabilities and/or mental health problems in the UK People with learning disabilities die younger Higher rates of obesity and respiratory disease Fewer health screenings Diagnostic overshadowing Information not collated

5. Background investigations Delivering the Bamford Vision (2008) The response of the Northern Ireland Executive to the Bamford review of mental health and learning disability – improving accessibility to healthcare and setting targets People with learning disabilities in Scotland –Health Need Assessment Report (2004) NHS Health Scotland –health inequalities and sets standards Statement on Policy and Practice for adults with a learning disability (2007) Welsh Assembly Government, All Wales People First- health inequalities, improvement in services

6. Background investigations Human Rights (2008) A life like any other? Human rights of adults with learning disabilities. www.publications.parliament. uk Recent failures in healthcare – abuse, neglect, ill Joint House of Lords and Commons Committee on treatment Still necessary to emphasise that adults with learning disabilities have the same human rights as everyone else

7. Background Sir Jonathan Micheal (2008) Healthcare for all –report of the independent enquiry into access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities. Aldridge Press, London. Ten recommendations: Mandatory training Data collection Family and carer involvement Needs assessment

8. Background To raise awareness in healthcare of premature, avoidable death Standards for reasonable adjustments Inspectors and regulators Enhanced primary care services NHS should listen to views NHS should be able to show reasonable adjustments Phil Hope –Minister of State 27 th October 2008 “ Our forthcoming strategy on learning disabilities will respond in full to these recommendations”.

9. AHP Bulletin October 2008 www.dh. gov . uk / ahpbulletin Vital role for AHPs in improving access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities “ This is a great opportunity for AHPs to use their wide range of skills to help transform healthcare for people with learning disabilities” “ I’m fed up with enquiry after enquiry making no difference whatsoever”

10. Start of Getting it Right 15 th November 2007, Jim Blair – President of the Royal Society of Medicine’s Intellectual Disabilities Forum, Senior Lecturer in Learning Disabilities, Kingston University. Launch of a cross-agency, cross-college working group to tackle disturbing inadequacies in NHS treatment Addressing the issues of accountability, training and responsibility

11. Getting it Right Meetings once a month Product to improve generic healthcare staff’s ability to work with people with learning disabilities Endorsed leaflet in paper and electronic format Insert into OTN Each professional group responsible for dissemination

12. Group members Mencap The College of Occupational Therapists Royal Society of Medicine Royal College of General Practitioners Royal College of Nursing The Commission for Carers Nursing and Midwifery Council Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Royal College of Psychiatrists

13. Who we are Getting it right is a group of organisations working to wards better healthcare, well being and quality of life for people with a learning disability. People with a learning disability experience poorer health and healthcare than the general population. We aim to provide healthcare professionals with information on best practice and where to go for information and support so all people with a learning disability get the best health treatment possible.

14. See the person –not the disability Find time to Listen to the person Listen to the family Find the best way to communicate Pay attention to facial expressions Notice gestures and body language Try pointing to pictures Try signing Keep info simple and brief Avoid using jargon

15. Don’t make assumptions about the person’s quality of life People with a learning disability feel pain too People with a learning disability get ill too Don’t confuse a learning disability with illness Be suspicious about serious illness- act quickly! Get to know some of the health conditions that are more common for people with a learning disability

16. The Law and you You must make reasonable adjustments to ensure that each person has the same opportunity for health whether they have a learning disability or not. Disability Discrimination Act 2005

17. The Law and you You must be able to establish the person’s capacity and make decisions that are in their best interest if they cannot decide for themselves. Mental Capacity Act 2005

18. The Law and you Everyone has a right to expect and receive appropriate healthcare. Human Rights Act 1998

19. Where to find help and more information Call your local learning disability team Go to www. mencap .org. uk Or www. intellectualdisability .info Or www. easyhealth .org. uk

20. Dissemination OTN Specialist Sections Higher Education Institutes COT Conference Brighton 2009 June 23 rd -26 th You!

21. Challenging Behaviour update Royal College of Psychiatrists, British Psychological Society, Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (2007) Challenging Behaviour; a unified approach. www. rcpsych .ac. uk Challenging Behaviour National Strategy Group – the Challenging Behaviour Foundation Collate all the strands of work currently being undertaken in the field of LD and challenging behaviour Identify gaps in provision and where to target work for the greatest impact

22. Conclusion Getting it Right from inception to dissemination Challenging Behaviour update [email_address] uk 0207 450 5220