
Improving care for people with Learning Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder
If you have a learning disability you may be able to get extra support when you visit your doctor’s surgery. You need to ask to be on the surgery’s Learning Disability Register, anyone of any age, and any level of learning disability can join the register, even if you live independently and have little or no support.
If you are a parent or carer of a child or young person with a learning disability you can ask for them to be put on the register.
Mencap have worked with NHS England to develop guides to explain about the register, you can find them by visiting: Extra support people with a learning disability can get at the doctors | Mencap.
By being on the Learning Disability Register you will get extra support when you visit the doctors and could receive an Annual Health Check once you are 14 years old. An Annual Health Check is done by your doctor once a year and you don’t have to be ill to have one. Your doctor will check to see how you are doing to make sure you’re healthy and you can ask questions and talk about anything that hurts or is worrying you.
You can find leaflets and videos about Annual Health Checks here:
Don't Miss Out - Annual Health Checks Mencap.
Transforming Care
'Transforming Care' is NHS England’s commitment to improving the care of people with Learning Disabilities, and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It seeks to reduce people being admitted to hospital when they don't need to be, and encourage early and effective planning to help people leave hospital. The key processes are: