Look After Your Health
People with a learning disability often have poorer physical and mental health than other people. This does not need to be the case. Reading Mencap’s Family Health Advisers work with adults with learning disabilities and their families to close this health gap.
They can offer home visits for clients with specific health problems to ensure they access the right support.
They can also support unpaid family carers and paid carers to better understand the kind of help the person they care for needs and how to get good information and advice. Help can also be given to support clients and their carers to complete the Mencap Hospital Health Passport.
Reading Mencap’s health project aims to:
- Support patients with learning disabilities to sign up to their GPs Learning Disability Register, ensuring easier access to Annual Health Checks and appointments
- Support clients with learning disabilities to access the health services they need
- Promote and facilitate use of the Mencap Hospital Passport to people with learning disabilities and health practitioners
- Provide small-group learning for people with learning disabilities on the importance of Annual Health Checks and maintaining their health
How to make a referral
To make a referral to our Family Health Advisers, please call 0118 966 2518 or email office@readingmencap.org.uk
This service is free thanks to funding from Reading Borough Council.
Eligibility
Our Family Health Advisers can support people who live in Reading Borough (pay council tax to Reading Borough Council).
What is an Annual Health Check?
Annual health checks are for adults and young people with a learning disability aged 14 and over. An annual health check helps people stay well by talking to a doctor, nurse or healthcare assistant about their health and find any problems early.
Who can have an annual health check?
Anyone who is aged 14 or over and who is on their GP’s Learning Disability Register will get an invite once a year for a free annual health check. You can ask to go on this register if you, or the person you care for, has a learning disability.
What happens during the annual health check?
During the health check, the GP or nurse will:
- do a physical check-up, including weight, heart rate, blood pressure and taking blood and urine samples
- talk to you about staying well and if any help is needed with this
- ask about things that are more common if someone has a learning disability, such as epilepsy, constipation or problems with swallowing
- talk to you about any medication you may be taking
- check how you are feeling if you have any health problems such as asthma or diabetes
- check to see if your vaccinations are up to date
- check if you have any other health appointments, such as physiotherapy or speech therapy
- ask if your family or carers are getting the support they need
- help make sure things go well when children move to adult services at the age of 18.
What if my GP doesn’t offer an annual health check?
Most doctors offer annual health checks to people with a learning disability. But they do not have to offer this service. If your GP surgery does not offer this service, ask us for help. Call 0118 966 2518 or email office@readingmencap.org.uk
Making reasonable adjustments
The Equality Act (2010) states all organisations including health and social care, such as hospitals and GP surgeries must take steps to remove the barriers individuals face because of disability. This is called making reasonable adjustments.
Ask your doctor if you need any reasonable adjustments, such as:
- using pictures, large print or simpler words to say what’s happening
- booking longer appointments or having a carer with you
- putting an appointment at the beginning or end of the day, if you find it hard to be in a busy waiting room
The reasonable adjustments you need should be written down in a health profile or health action plan that the doctor or nurse can use.
Do you have to have an annual health check?
No. You don’t have to have an annual health check. However, it is a good idea for those who want to be as healthy as possible. If you, or the person you care for, is worried about having a health check, let the doctor, nurse or healthcare assistant know.
Health Action Plans
As part of your annual health check, you should be given a Health Action Plan.
A health action plan should include:
- goals and plans for future care
- who is responsible for co-ordination of care and how this is communicated to other professionals and services involved
- timing of follow up
- how to access urgent care.
All actions should be agreed with you and a copy given to you.
If you need help to understand your health action plan, contact us on 0118 966 2518 or email office@readingmencap.org.uk
