Improving health outcomes for people with learning disabilities
Intended for healthcare professionals
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Improving health outcomes for people with learning disabilities

Ben Thomas Professional adviser, Mental health and learning disability nursing, Department of Health, London
David Atkinson Consultant nurse, Bradford District Care Trust, Bradford

Modern healthcare policy is driven by an emphasis on the philosophy of inclusion, yet in the past decade there has been increasing recognition that people with learning disabilities experience a range of difficulties when trying to access general healthcare services. The Disability Discrimination Acts of 1995 and 2005, and the Equality Act 2010, have driven service providers to find areas where ‘reasonable adjustments’ can be made to ensure improved health outcomes. This article considers the background context as well as exploring what reasonable adjustments mean in practice.

Nursing Standard. 26, 6, 33-36. doi: 10.7748/ns2011.10.26.6.33.c8757

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

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