Getting health services

People with learning difficulties have many problems getting health services. It is difficult for them to read a lot of information about being healthy. They may not get health tests such as cervical and breast screening.

People with learning difficulties are more likely to die before the age of 50. The main reasons are respiratory related coniditions. Some research says that people with a learning disability are four times more likely to die from an illness which could have been made better.

Cath Rotherham, Healthcare Facilitator looked at what was happening in Salford to help people with learning difficulties to get health services and help them to live longer and be more healthy. She wrote a report about the things she found out.

• Two ways which help people are Health Action Plans and named Health Facilitators
• Most people have had their medicine checked or have had help with their diet/weight where needed
• Only one in four eligible women had a cervical smear
• Only 27% of smokers had help with trying to stop

The report says a lot of work is being done to help people with learning difficulties to be more healthy, but there is more work that needs doing.

If you want to know more, contact:

Catherine Rotherham
Healthcare Facilitator (Learning Difficulties)
Contact Number: 0161 212 4590
Email: catherine.rotherham@salford-pct.nhs.uk

This page was last updated on 3 October 2009