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The Learning Disability team is here to support patients with Learning Disabilities and their families when they attend St George’s Hospital.

We work Monday – Friday 9-5 (excluding bank holidays) and the team includes one senior Nurse Practitioner, two Nurse practitioners and one support worker.

Ways we can help:

  • We can visit you on ward.
  • Speak with ward staff to let them know what you need.
  • Be there on visits with you if you would like us there.
  • Speak with the outpatient clinics that you will be visiting so they know what you need.
  • We can help you to understand information to help you make decisions about your care.
  • Our LD support worker can do activities with you, such as drawing, colouring, and word search.

What is a Learning Disability?

Reduced ability to understand new or complex information, to learn new skills (impaired intelligence), usually associated with an IQ below 70.

A reduced ability to cope independently (impaired social functioning), which started before adulthood, with a lasting effect on development.

For information on the strategy put in place by the Government for individuals with a Learning Disability, please click on link below:
Valuing People – A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century

We are unable to support people with:

  • Learning Difficulties: ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia. Dyscalculia
  • Autism without a Learning Disability diagnosis
  • Asperger’s syndrome without a Learning Disability.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury after the age of 18

Who we support:

Any patient with a diagnosed Learning Disability that is accessing inpatient or outpatient services at St George’s Hospital.

What are Reasonable Adjustments?

The Equality Act 2010 makes it is a legal requirement for the NHS to make it easy for people with a disability to use health services, by making reasonable adjustments like:

  • A carer staying in hospital overnight with you.
  • Easy read information.
  • A longer appointment.
  • Time to meet a learning disability Nurse before your appointment.
  • More time and support so you understand what you will need at the hospital.

 

Here are some of the reasonable adjustments we have put in place at St George’s Hospital:

Reasonable Adjustments for St George’s staff working with Learning Disability patients who have Outpatient Appointments:

  • LD team may give the patient a courtesy call prior to clinic appointment as a kind reminder and to ascertain if any special support or reasonable adjustments are needed – revise specifics of appointments such as date, time, clinic location, hospital venue i.e., St Georges’ or Queen Mary
  • If the patient is using hospital transport, and the team will advise the clinic reception of their arrival for the appointment. Hospital Transport will find out if the patient can be fast tracked or be offered a quiet area and how long appointment will take to coordinate a return pick up.
  • LD team will liaise with the relevant clinics to request reasonable adjustments be put in place to support clinic appointments.
  • Appointments may allow additional time to give new information as people with Learning Disabilities may take longer to process information.
  • LD team/nurses will try to meet patients at the relevant clinics as they arrive for their appointments and support them throughout the process.
  • A side room will be offered, where possible, as this is quieter and more comfortable for the patient.
  • Where possible, please ask clinicians if they can fast track the patient to avoid long waiting times and prevent anxiety.
  • If needed, discuss with clinic if there are alternative access/egress points to clinic which would better suit to the patient’s needs.
  • LD team/nurses to have access to sensory bag with items of interest which will provide happy engagement with the patient but also, proactively divert their attention whilst they are waiting or having their appointments.
  • Clinical teams will engage with the patient’s family/ carers for clarity on issues which would help support the patients care.
  • The Learning Disability team can provide easy read information about attending specific outpatient clinic appointments.

 

Reasonable Adjustments for Learning Disability patients that have been admitted at St George’s Hospital:

  • One family member or carer can stay overnight with the individual. They may need a carers’ bed.
  • The Learning Disability team can provide easy read information about care or & treatment.
  • Please bring your hospital passport, staff will have this printed at the bedside for all staff to familiarise themselves with
  • Please ensure staff are fully informed of the patient’s eating/swallowing abilities. A referral to Speech and Language Therapy team will be made if applicable.
  • Please have the patient’s communication passport or be aware of their alternative form of communication i.e., talking mats, communication symbols, Makaton
  • You can request additional time to discuss new information.
  • A side room will be offered where possible.
  • Staff will involve family, carers, spouses for clarity on issues which would help support the patients care.

 

Accessible Toilet:

There are accessible toilets at St George’s. There is an accessible toilet in Grosvenor Wing ground floor.

 

Hospital Passport:

A hospital passport is sometimes called healthcare passport. If you have a hospital passport, please bring it with you as this will help hospital staff know about what medication you are taking, and what you like and what you don’t like.  You do not have to have one, but it will help staff to give you care better suited to meet your needs.

Download a blank hospital passport here: Hospital Passport Template

Further resources