Meeting the needs of people with learning disabilities in acute care.
This article describes the work of the Birmingham Acute Hospital Liaison Project, which seeks to support people with learning disabilities in acute care. Following the community care reforms, more and more people with learning disabilities are accessing mainstream primary and secondary healthcare services in community settings staffed by generic rather than specialist learning disability staff. Unfortunately, research suggests that some people with learning disabilities receive poor quality care and that available services are not always responsive to their needs. As a result, the Acute Hospital Liaison Project has a dual role: supporting people with learning disabilities as they enter hospital; and working with ward staff to equip them with the skills and confidence they need to work more effectively with people with learning disabilities.
Glasby
Ann-Marie
AM
Birmingham Acute Hospital Liaison Project, Birmingham.
D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007859:Learning Disabilities; D008297:Male; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012944:Social Support