Barnet patients with learning disabilities get new health action plan

Statistics show that people with a learning disability have poorer physical and mental health than that of the general population and often face barriers to accessing mainstream health and social care services. The learning disability service helps overcome these barriers to ensure fair access to care and therefore better health and social care outcomes.
 

Responding to the needs of the population we serve, on 1 Nov 2017, Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust's Barnet Learning Disability service launched a new health action plan called 'My Health Matters Book'. The book was created by the learning disability service with support from Barnet Mencap and service users.

Valerie Abdulla, service manager explains, "The aim is for everyone with a learning disability in Barnet to have a My Health Matters Book. The LD service sees this as a powerful tool for service users to help them have a voice about their healthcare. The book not only empowers people with a learning disability but it also enables our mainstream healthcare colleagues to support them to achieve good health outcomes."
 

The book will help everyone with a learning disability to have a clear health action plan that will outline their health needs and how to keep them healthy. It will include:

• Information for health care professionals about working with people with a learning disability
• Communication aids
• Health action plans
• Information about health appointments
• Details about reasonable adjustments needed
• Important personal details

The Barnet Learning Disability team have organised a My Health Matters launch party on 30th November at St Paul's Church in Finchley.  If you want to learn more about the My Health Matters books then drop in between 10-12 to hear some presentations, meet our staff and grab some cake!

The team will also be providing training for people with learning disabilities, parents and care providers on how to use the My Health Matters Book. The training runs monthly and you can book on via BLDS duty desk on: 02083596161 or BLDSintegratedduty@barnet.gov.uk.