Shaping future health and care for people with learning disabilities, autism and other disabilities in Enfield

Are you someone with or do you care for someone with a learning disability, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and/or other disabilities? Want to tell the NHS how services could be improved? Complete one of our surveys:

What are the changes coming?

In a nutshell, the NHS Long Term Plan,  a ten-year plan created by NHS England, sets out a vision to make sure that health services are fit for purpose in the future. With growing pressure on the NHS – an ageing population, more people living with long-term conditions, and lifestyle choices affecting people’s health – changes are needed to make sure everybody gets the support they need.

A significant part of the plan is around preventative action against illness and disease, so switching to a healthier lifestyle could prevent some health issues occurring. The plan also promises that more support will be available for people with mental health conditions; heart and lung diseases; long-term conditions, such as diabetes and arthritis; learning disabilities; autism; and dementia.

There will be a drive to increase staff numbers to support this. Technology will be used to give medical professionals better access to information and the ability to share it with other service providers.

 Focus on services and support for people learning disabilities, autism and other disabilities

So, what exactly is the NHS Long Term Plan aiming to do to help improve services for people with Learning Disabilities, Autism and other disabilities?

Over the next three years the plan will focus on many aspects of care including, but not limited to;

• reducing causes of death and preventable deaths in care
• specially designed annual health checks
• over-medication
• staff training to help improve the general understanding and awareness throughout the NHS from the first point of contact
• better-integrated care systems
• hearing, sight and dental checks will be brought into specialist schools
• reduced waiting times for diagnoses
• designated key workers
• improved quality of inpatient care and discharge.

At our first focus group with parents and carers of people with Learning Disabilities mid-April, it was clear that there is room for improvement. Local carers told us that some of the ‘processes are horrendous’, that ‘staff don’t listen to us even though they have no idea how to communicate’ and that ‘health checks strike me as a tick box exercise’.

Now our local NHS needs to hear from you about what those changes should look like in your community within Enfield. Complete one of our online surveys (above) and we will make sure your opinion is shared with those who make decision.