‘Inspiring’ event on the health and wellbeing of people with a learning disability leads to real changes in patient experience

Work from health and care and other community providers across the Broxtowe area is leading to a real change in the experiences of people with a learning disability and their carers.

Nottingham West Primary Care Network (PCN) has been linking with partners to address the unfair and avoidable differences in health outcomes and life chances seen nationally for people with a learning disability.

Clare Watson, Health Inequalities Lead at Nottingham West PCN, said: “Access to services, experience and opportunities can all be improved for people with a learning disability.

“In Nottingham West we have brought patients with learning disabilities, their parents and carers together with local partners from the health, care, leisure, and voluntary sector through a series of roadshow events.

“Over the last year, we reached hundreds of people through six roadshows that were held in conjunction with Liberty Leisure Limited (LLeisure) and funded by a grant of £2,000 from Health Innovation East Midlands. The aim was to engage with people who have learning disabilities to see how local services could better support them to live more healthily.”

This prolonged period of listening concluded with a recent sharing event described as ‘inspiring’, ‘positive’ and ‘informative’. Nearly 50 people attended the event to share the learning from the roadshows, to share actions already taken based on what was heard and to agree on ways to build on this work collectively.

Clare said: “We needed to hear the voice of patients right from the start of any meaningful change. The experiences and feedback we heard throughout the 2023 roadshows has led to a number of significant changes to services across Broxtowe.” 

An award-winning pilot has been set up in partnership with Broxtowe Day service, to invest in clinical staff working within GP surgeries.  All Trainee Nursing Associates (TNAs) across the PCN have been supported to undertake a three-week placement within the day service to see gold standard communication and relationship building with people with a wide range of additional needs being role modelled.  The pilot has evaluated so well that three other PCNs have now taken up the opportunity for their TNAs, with the pilot being recognised as a finalist in the ‘Empowered Learning Award’ category at recent adult social care and public health awards in Nottinghamshire.

As a direct response to experiences shared, the PCN is also working towards setting up a sensory flu clinic for this winter, to provide a calm, safe space for people with additional needs to access their winter flu vaccinations in a familiar community setting.

General feedback was that people with learning disabilities want to be known, to be spoken to directly and involved in decision making that directly affects them.

The roadshows also encouraged people to try out social and physical activities such as Nordic walking, tandem riding and Boccia – a fully accessible sport – and in partnership with Boccia England, we are supporting members of the community to be trained as session leaders to enable sessions to be established locally to encourage people to get involved and benefit their physical and mental health.

Chloe Corden, Active Lifestyles Manager at LLeisure, added: “The roadshow attendees told us that they want access to everyday activities, and that feeling safe is necessary for a positive experience. We want to see that organisations across Broxtowe have adjustments put in place without needing to be asked and remembering that when we get the small things right, we really do make a difference.”