Learning disability and autism news
More support for pregnant women and people with a learning disability with diabetes
Thousands more people with diabetes will no longer need to do painful finger prick tests and instead will have life changing technology to help manage their condition on the NHS. Pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes will be able to access a Continuous Glucose Monitor for 12 months, which automatically alerts users if their blood […]
New NHS ‘Exemplars’ to help close inequality gap for people with a learning disability
The NHS has today called on local NHS organisations across the country to become learning disability ‘Exemplars’ to help drive forward improvements in care putting the health of people with a learning disability firmly on the agenda. The call comes as the fourth annual learning disability review and action report are published. Most recent data […]
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 […]
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; […]
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 […]
NHS invests £5 million to improve care for people with a learning disability
The NHS has today announced that an additional £5 million will fund reviews to improve care for people with a learning disability and committed to renewed national action to tackle serious conditions. The world’s first programme to review the deaths of everyone with a learning disability is being expanded to speed up the spread of […]
NHS England urges more doctors and health care professionals to sign up to national pledge to stop overmedication for people with a learning disability, autism or both
NHS England is today (25 April 2018) asking more doctors and health care professionals to sign up to a pledge to stop the overmedication of people with a learning disability, autism or both. The renewed drive to widen support for Stopping OverMedication of People with a Learning Disability (STOMP), is being backed by the government […]
NHS England appoints senior local government leader as National Learning Disability Director
NHS England has today announced the appointment of Ray James as its first National Learning Disability Director, to drive improvement across the country on services to people with a learning disability, their families and carers. Ray is the former national president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and the long-standing executive director […]
Nurses play vital role in improving lives of millions
Professor Jane Cummings has urged nurses to lead the way in improving the lives of millions of people living with a mental health condition or learning disability. It is estimated there are around 1.1 million people living with a learning disability in England. However, the number recorded in health and welfare systems is much lower. […]
NHS England launches practical guides to help people with disabilities access GP online services
Practical guides to help disabled patients to access GP online services have been published by NHS England today (11 September). Aimed at supporting people with sight loss, hearing loss, autism or learning disabilities, a series of new guides have been developed to help patients use GP services online such as book appointments, repeat their prescriptions and […]