Health Improvement Strategy for People with a Learning Disability

1. Health Improvement Strategy for People with a Learning Disability Julie Burza Health Improvement Officer NHS Fife

2. Why Have the Strategy? • There isn’t one in Fife! • Response to the findings of the 2009 NHS Quality Improvement Scotland Review • Funding for the strategy was made available by the Scottish Government through the Equally Well Learning Disability Change Fund programme 2009-2011.

3. NHS Fife Population • Fife, 361,890 people ( 2008) • 2% of the Scottish population have a learning disability • 6000 - 7000 adults with a learning disability in Fife

4. Key Aims Strategy • Identify the health needs of adults with learning disabilities in Fife • Identify gaps in current service provision • Compile an action plan to address the significant health inequalities which can be experienced by this group of service users

5. The Process • Identify key partners • Literature review • Consultation process Focus groups Consultation events On line questionnaire • Service Review

6. Health NeedsQuiz • What is the leading cause of death for people with learning disabilities? • Cancer • Respiratory Disease • Cardiovascular Disease

7. Health NeedsQuiz • What Lifestyle/Public Health Issues are issues for people with learning disabilities? • Obesity & Poor Diet • Alcohol • Smoking • Lack of exercise

8. Health NeedsQuiz • What system in the body has the highest cancer trend for people with learning disabilities? • Cancer • Respiratory Disease • Cardiovascular Disease

9. Health Needs(Literature) • People with a learning disability have greater health needs but often these are unmet and unrecognised • Poorer uptake of universal screening and health promotion activities : • Less than 25% have had a cervical smear & smoking cessation, Keep Well, immunisation programmes have lower uptake • Risks to health have increased - exposure to social and environmental risk factors -poverty, social isolation, low educational attainment

10. Consultation process • Focus groups Consultation events On line questionnaire

15. Analysis

17. Key Issues Identified • Relationships/friends – limited social relationships including sexual relationships • Health Needs – lower cancer screening / prevention uptake, sensory impairment, obesity, osteoporosis, • Access to health care providers/premises -physical barriers and communication

18. Key Issues Identified • Educational needs & Employment – Gaps were identified in education, employment and social and leisure opportunities for the client group. • Carers – Often felt excluded and lacked information & support on key issues • Transitions - Further opportunities and coordinated approach is required.

19. Key Issues Identified • Transportation – for educational and social opportunities • Communication – around services & treatments predominantly from statutory agencies • Training – No universal core stafftraining for those staff not seen as specialist - also profile & priority of this training

20. Outcomes • A Health Improvement Strategy has been created: • Identifies the health needs of adults with learning disabilities in Fife • Gaps in service provision • 15 Recommendations and a draft action plan

21. Strategy’sKey Strength • This strategy is needs-assessment-based i.e.: • takes account of the views of people with a learning disability and their carers; • incorporates views of service providers • reflects what the research evidence tells us is effective in promoting the health of people with a learning disability; • draws on similar strategies produced by other NHS boards.

22. Ambition and Challenge • This strategy is rightly ambitious in its scope. • BUT • The challenge is to make the best use of the resources available

23. Service Users Comments “Very good event- felt my opinion matters- good opportunity to hear other views as well.” “I enjoyed talking about doctors, dentists and services” service user

24. “ As a carer and a person involved in the Learning Disability Service I have found this very useful. Clearly there is a lot of work to do but care must be taken that the work is not done in isolation” Carer Carer Feedback

25. Feedback Susan Manion, General Manager introducing the Health Improvement Strategy to delegates.

26. What Now? • A multi- agency implementation group formed to take forward the recommendations from the strategy • A copy of the strategy and updates on work streams can be obtained from http://www.dwfchp.scot.nhs.uk/content.asp?ArticleCode=2847&par=215

27. Further Information & Copies of the Strategy • Improving Health Team, Dunfermline and West Fife Community Health Partnership, NHS Fife on 01383 565497. • julieburza@nhs.net