How to help and share the campaign if you work in healthcare

Nearly half of GPs told us they didn’t know how to make reasonable adjustments. And over half felt that communication with people with learning disabilities was an issue.

We think these are major reasons why people with learning disabilities are five times more likely to end up in hospital for preventable issues that can be treated by their GP (EHRC).

What GP practices can do to be more accessible

1. Read our report: My GP and Me – Making Care Fair
   We surveyed GPs, people with learning disabilities or autism and support workers to gather thoughts and experiences on the accessibility of health care.
2. Take our free elearning
   On National Patient Participation Week 2021, we published new free elearning available for all primary healthcare staff. This elearning will help make your practice more inclusive and accessible for people with learning disabilities and autism. Please take and share the training.
3. Encourage your patients to join the Learning Disability Register
   This helps make you more aware of the support needs of your patient and also entitles them to one free annual health check.
4. Talk to your patients and their support teams about Health Action Plans
   These are personalised plans that tackle identified health priorities and can help collaboration between you, your patient and their support team.
5. Download our free resource: Tips to help me at the doctors
   This is for your patients to complete and give to you before their appointment. You can use this to work together and better understand how you can support their visit.
6. Personalise our free Welcome to your GP practice social story template and make it available to your patients
   This is a tool used to help prepare for a journey. You can personalise this template with photos and information about your surgery so patients knows what to expect when they arrive.
7. Better understand health inequality people with learning disabilities or autism face
   Our research shows that many people experience difficulties accessing timely and effective care. Some areas in particular require urgent attention.

We hope that through #MyGPandMe we can bring together the skills, knowledge and passion of all those who have responsibility for people’s health and significantly reduce health inequalities for people with learning disabilities or autism.