People with learning disabilities (LDs) experience difficulty in using and gaining access to assessment and treatment within mainstream health services.
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1. What are some of the causes of these difficulties?
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Correct answer:
- People with LDs may experience difficulties in making appointments often due to their communication needs.
- Arranging transport to and from appointments may be difficult.
- Primary care staff who have limited experience of working with people with LDs may struggle to communicate appropriately.
- An over-reliance on carers to explain the persons health needs and adopt a health promoting approach with them, for example routine appointment reminders and support to access these.
- Some people may find waiting difficult and may struggle with the concept of time and waiting their turn.
- Healthcare professionals may not be familiar with services which are available for people with LDs.
- There may be physical barriers, for example difficulty lying on an examination couch.
- There may be a lack of leaflets and documentation relevant people with LDs and their health needs.
- Their inability to describe their symptoms if they do go to their general practitioner may lead to a wrong diagnosis or result in illness going undetected.
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2. What can the LD nurse do to support people with LDs to access health care?
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Correct answer:
- LD nurses have a key role to explain to people with LDs what they need to know, what they need to do, what the equipment does, how it will be used and how it will feel, preferably in advance of appointments, particularly those involving physical examinations/interventions.
- Introduce routines for the administration of medicines to be related to routine daily events such as meal times.
- Talk to the person first and then check out with the carer or support worker if something is not clear. The person may understand, even if unable to communicate, and should be included in their consultation.
- Throughout the consultation signs, symbols or other means of assisted communication may be needed, usually with the help of a carer or support worker.
- Plain language is best supported by visual information whenever possible.
