Learning disability and autism news

New NHS campaign to help spot early signs of life-threatening constipation in people with a learning disability

The NHS has today launched a major new national campaign to support people with a learning disability, healthcare professionals and carers to spot the early signs of potentially life-threatening constipation. The campaign, which has been co-created with people with lived experience, launches today with a new animation and posters for use in different care settings […]

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Last chance to get protected from covid

England’s top NHS doctor Professor Sir Stephen Powis has called on people eligible for a covid jab to book an appointment before the end of the month. The NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Programme’s spring campaign will end on Friday 30 June and it will be the last day anyone due a spring booster or yet to […]

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NHS appoints national director of learning disability and autism

NHS England has today announced the appointment of Tom Cahill as the national director for learning disability and autism. Tom, who has been chief executive of Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust since 2009, will join NHS England to build on progress already made in providing people with a learning disability or autism with care […]

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NHS update to learning disability mortality review

Autistic people will now be specifically included in an improved and expanded LeDeR programme to drive improvements in care, the NHS announced today. The move is part of changes to the learning from life and death reviews programme (LeDeR) which aims to make improvements to the lives of people with a learning disability. The NHS […]

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Top NHS doctor issues advice for children going back to school

NHS England’s top doctor for children and young people’s mental health has urged parents to be alert to signs that children could be experiencing anxiety, distress or low mood as some pupils return to school on Monday (1 June). Lockdown will have increased pressure on many mums, dads and their children, with young people unable […]

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NHS taskforce to drive improvements in young people’s hospital mental health, learning disability and autism care

NHS chief Simon Stevens has today (Thursday October 10th) announced that a new taskforce will be set up to improve current specialist children and young people’s inpatient mental health, autism and learning disability services in England. The NHS Long Term Plan sets out an ambitious programme to transform mental health services, autism and learning disability; […]

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NHS announces top clinician and independent expert to oversee review into death of Oliver McGowan

A leading expert on learning disability services will work with a respected NHS leader to review the circumstances and lessons of the death of Oliver McGowan, a young teenager with learning disabilities. The NHS has today announced that Dr. Celia Ingham Clark MBE, England’s medical director for professional leadership and clinical effectiveness, will oversee the […]

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