Improving access to services for people with learning disabilities

News - 2 June 2016

In some instances, people with learning disabilities cannot access the support they need to live independently. We look at how one local Healthwatch has been working to challenge unequal access to services for people in their area.
Graphic of sign saying "open"

Before people can access learning disability services, an assessment needs to take place to establish whether they meet the necessary criteria. When a member of the public got in touch with Healthwatch Rotherham to discuss their experience of this process, they decided to investigate this further.

Tony Clabby, Chief Executive of Healthwatch Rotherham, explains:

What did you find?

We found that learning disability services in both Doncaster and Rotherham are delivered by the same organisation – Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust – but that the threshold for people to access the services differed in each place.

Up until now, for someone in Rotherham to be able to access services, one of the criteria is that they would have to have an IQ below 50. In comparison, in other local authorities the threshold is an IQ of 70.

What did you do?

We shared our concerns with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and Rotherham NHS Clinical Commissioning Group who jointly commission the service. When the council and CCG proposed changes to services for people with a learning disability to ensure they meet the local population’s needs, we took the opportunity to raise the issue of unequal access.

What happened as a result?

The threshold for people to access disability services in Rotherham has been raised to an IQ of 70, to bring it in line with other local authorities.

This change means that people with mild or moderate learning disabilities can now access services. It is early days yet, but this change means that a significant group of people are now able to access services that were previously unavailable to them.

You might also be interested in

""

Four challenges people face living with learning disabilities

In the UK, approximately 1.5 million people have a learning disability. Many people with learning disabilities find it difficult to learn, develop new skills, understand information and interact with other people. Therefore, accessing the support they need to live as independently as possible is crucial.
Blog
An older woman in a grey tshirt rolls up her sleeve as a young doctor gives her an injection

What is flu and how do I get the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine, also known as the flu jab, is offered on the NHS every year in autumn and winter to people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu. Understanding the symptoms of flu and what the flu vaccine is helps you make informed decisions about your health.
Advice and Information