Learning Disability Annual Health Checks Project

Are you a parent or carer for someone with Learning Disabilities? 

In South Gloucestershire, some (but not all) GP Practices send out a few questions before an individual visits the Doctor for a Learning Disability Annual Health Check (LD AHC). These questions are to help the individual be ready for the questions the Doctor will ask during the check and also to help the Doctor find out more about the patients’ health and wellbeing.

Healthwatch South Gloucestershire would like to improve this list, making sure the information is relevant to South Gloucestershire and helps you and the person you care for get the most out of the LD AHC. We would like to speak to parents and carers of people with Learning Disabilities to hear your suggestions and ideas about what to include in the pre-check questionnaire.

It would be great to review this set of pre-check questions and ensure these questions will help make the LD AHC better for you and the person you care for. The suggestions and ideas from you will be combined with the suggestions and ideas from a focus group of people with LD, to create a document which is influenced by lived experience and shaped by service users.

We would be grateful if you could think about the following questions:

• Have you ever received pre-check questions? If yes, what were they like?
• What questions would help you, as a carer, be ready for the LD Annual Health Check
• What questions could be included to help the Doctor understand more about the person you care for
• What extra resources or information could be included in the pre-check questions to help you as a carer and the person you care for

If you would like to be involved, please email Maisy maisy@healthwatchsouthglos.co.uk to find a time to talk that suits you.

Our vision is that every Practice in South Gloucestershire will use this document, meaning that everyone person in South Gloucestershire who has a LD AHC has access to the same resources and pre-check information. We are liaising with the Clinical Commissioning Group, Sirona and South Gloucestershire Council on this project, and they will be helping us roll this out across South Gloucestershire. 

If you have any questions, please do get in touch. Feel free to send this information to anyone you know who may be interested in taking part.

Do you have a Learning Disability? 

A health check is when the doctor checks if you are healthy. You don’t need to be ill to get a health check. But you can ask your doctor about anything that is hurting or worrying you. Before a health check the doctor should send you a list. You can use this list to make sure your doctor or nurse checks everything you want them to.

We would like you to tell us what you would like to be on the list to help you be ready for the questions the Doctor will ask during the check and also to help the Doctor find out more about the your health and wellbeing.  

• Do you have an Annual Health Check? 
• Does someone go with you? 
• Would you like to know about Heart Health? 
• Would you like to know about Healthy Eating? 
• Would you like to know about exercise? 

Please email Maisy using maisy@healthwatchsouthglos.co.uk if you or someone you support would like to be involved.