Care adjustments for people with learning disabilities in hospitals
Jim Blair Consultant nurse in learning disability, St George’s Hospital, London, Kingston University and St George’s, University of London
Jim Blair describes how ensuring staff have immediate access to patient information has improved treatment for this client group
Health inequalities start early in life for people with learning disabilities. In the UK, they can arise from various barriers that people experience when trying to access care that should be appropriate, timely and effective. Inequalities in health care are likely to result in many NHS organisations breaching their legal responsibilities, as outlined in the Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005, the Equality Act 2010 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Emerson and Baines 2010). This article seeks to help nurses, healthcare professionals and hospital managers ensure that better services are delivered by encouraging them to explore how reasonable adjustments can improve outcomes for people with learning disabilities.
Nursing Management.
18, 8, 21-24.
doi: 10.7748/nm2011.12.18.8.21.c8841
Correspondence
jim.blair@stgeorges.nhs.uk
Peer review
This article has been subject to double blind peer review
Conflict of interest
None declared
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