Health Checks for People with Learning Disabilities

Abstract

By offering annual health checks to people with learning disabilities a variety of health conditions were detected and treated. Health checks took place at a general practice surgery and were performed by a consultant psychiatrist in learning disability, a general practitioner (GP) and a community learning disability nurse. Thirty-five people attended full health checks at T1 (year 1) and T2 (a year later). Health status was quantified by measuring changes at T2. Contrary to other research findings, people with learning disabilities at this surgery consulted their GPs more frequently, were prescribed significantly more medication and were more likely to be prescribed medication than controls. At T1 33 (94 percent) people had a physical health problem that warranted intervention and 25 (71 percent) people had problems with their mental health. At T2 referrals and other interventions were reduced but still warranted extending the health checks into future years.