A project run by the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) Learning Disability and Autism (LDA) Collaborative, to boost the rate of physical health checks completed for people with learning disabilities, is the most successful in the Midlands and in England’s top five best performing areas.

The LDA Collaborative – led by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) – is working to address the considerable health inequalities for people with learning disabilities. This includes life expectancy being up to 25 years shorter than for other people. Statistics such as these highlight the importance of annual health checks by GPs.

 People with a learning disability aged 14+ are entitled to an annual health check (AHC) which helps to identify long-term conditions early and to improve the individual’s health and wellbeing through a structured Health Action Plan.

NHS England requires a minimum of 75% of people to receive an AHC in any one year. Three years ago, LLR was one of the lowest performing areas in the country but is now at 82.6%, placing the LLR LDA Collaborative as the top-performing area in the Midlands and fifth nationally.

This success is down to the LDA Collaborative working across local health, social care and voluntary sector organisations. A primary focus has been on the support and training provided to primary care and social care partners – including GP practices – by LPT’s Primary Care Liaison Nurses. The team have placed a particular focus on increasing the uptake of annual health checks for 14- to 19-year-olds and people who haven’t accessed their AHC for more than a year.

For example, they encourage the same GP and nurse to complete the health check to build a relationship and understand each person’s needs around appointments to ensure adjustments are made to how care is provided so that appointments are more accessible. Other changes include providing more time for patients who are known to find appointments a challenge, offering flexible home visits when needed, providing information in easy-read, colourful and pictorial format, to put patients at ease, and providing extra reminders for appointments.

David Williams, Director of Strategy and Partnerships at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said:

“I am proud to see the great progress we have made for our communities in LLR. Annual health checks make a big difference in helping people live healthier lives for longer.”

Rebecca Eccles, Health Equity Lead for the LLR LDA Collaborative said:

“Working collaboratively has transformed healthcare for people with learning disabilities. It’s really encouraging to see the results of our hard work and we’re delighted that more people are coming forward for their annual health checks.”

People who have not had their annual health check are being encouraged to arrange theirs as soon as possible. Health checks help to ensure people with learning disabilities are receiving the care they need, and any issues are identified early so they can be treated before becoming more complicated. To find out more about annual health checks, please visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/learning-disabilities/annual-health-checks/ or speak to your GP.

The LDA Collaborative is led by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust with partners and representatives including the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board, Leicester County Council, Leicestershire County Council, Rutland County Council, as well as voluntary and community organisations, and experts by experience.