CPD Previous Next

Supporting choice in health care for people with learning disabilities

John Turnbull Director of performance information and nursing, Oxfordshire Learning Disability NHS Trust, Oxford

Sue Chapman Head of quality and performance, Ridgeway Partnership, Oxfordshire Learning Disability NHS Trust, Oxford

People with learning disabilities represent a small and vulnerable group in society who commonly encounter barriers in accessing and using health care. This article focuses on how nurses and other healthcare professionals could support these individuals to make decisions about their care. In particular, it highlights the changes in legislation, policy and practice that have occurred recently to ensure the rights of people with learning disabilities to access health care are upheld.

Nursing Standard. 24, 22, 50-55. doi: 10.7748/ns2010.02.24.22.50.c7519

Correspondence

john.turnbull@ridgeway.nhs.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Keywords :

Learning disabilities - mental capacity - patient choice