Abstract
People with learning disabilities have more health needs than the general population, and those health needs are different and require more specialised services. There is evidence of poorer outcomes and less effective health interventions for people with learning disabilities in Scotland, and elsewhere.
Reducing health inequalities is currently a key priority at national and at regional levels and National Health Service (NHS) policy has encouraged patient involvement in healthcare planning and delivery. Health authorities are expected to meet quality targets
This paper reports on an NHS initiative to involve people with learning disabilities as ‘expert patient’ reviewers in national review teams, looking at the quality of inpatient and community services for people with learning disabilities.
The involvement of people with learning disabilities in health service review teams has been one of the initiatives used in by National Health Service Quality Improvement Scotland to empower patients and improve health services. This involvement of people with learning disabilities as reviewers of NHS services has tested traditional assumptions and challenged the power imbalance inpatient-provider relationships. All 15 Health Boards in Scotland were reviewed, using a set of quality indicators.
This initiative was evaluated positively how by health staff, carers and people with learning disabilities. Details of the planning and support arrangements for reviews are reported.
Recommendations are made to ensure the future success of this type of initiative in Scotland and elsewhere. The theory and the practice of including people with learning disabilities as ‘expert patient’ reviewers are discussed.
Reducing health inequalities is currently a key priority at national and at regional levels and National Health Service (NHS) policy has encouraged patient involvement in healthcare planning and delivery. Health authorities are expected to meet quality targets
This paper reports on an NHS initiative to involve people with learning disabilities as ‘expert patient’ reviewers in national review teams, looking at the quality of inpatient and community services for people with learning disabilities.
The involvement of people with learning disabilities in health service review teams has been one of the initiatives used in by National Health Service Quality Improvement Scotland to empower patients and improve health services. This involvement of people with learning disabilities as reviewers of NHS services has tested traditional assumptions and challenged the power imbalance inpatient-provider relationships. All 15 Health Boards in Scotland were reviewed, using a set of quality indicators.
This initiative was evaluated positively how by health staff, carers and people with learning disabilities. Details of the planning and support arrangements for reviews are reported.
Recommendations are made to ensure the future success of this type of initiative in Scotland and elsewhere. The theory and the practice of including people with learning disabilities as ‘expert patient’ reviewers are discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 20 Feb 2011 |