Evaluation of Learning Disabilities Change Programme
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of Learning Disabilities Change Programme NHS Western Isles
IRAS ID
131933
Contact name
Sara Macdonald
Contact email
Research summary
In 2009 NHS Western Isles began the implementation of an on-going programme to address the issues of health inequalities for adults with Learning Disabilities. The programme aimed to encourage all staff to recognise the varied needs of the Learning Disability population within general care settings. More specifically, the programme recognised the following needs of LD community:
The right to make informed choices regarding their care, to have information and communication needs met, to put in place measures that negate inequity, regular health reviews for example; means of tracking referrals to specialist health care in hospitals; signage to direct people with a learning disability to the correct department.
The programme has a number of key strands:
1 Close involvement of the user perspective via the ’stand up for yourself advocacy group’.
2 Development of an e-health strategy that allows the tagging of the special needs of the LD population to GP practice notes.
3 Staff training across services to highlight the specific needs of the LD population.
4 Learning disabilities link roles: in recognition of the unique geography of the Western Isles, the programme identified 39 individual staff members in a range of healthcare settings across the NHS Board area with a responsibility for LD.
NHS Western Isles has commissioned the University of Glasgow to undertake an evaluation of the Learning Disabilities Change Programme.
Our key aim within this evaluation is to describe the unique service within the Western Isles and assess the extent to which the ’Change’ programme represents a change for both staff delivering and patients in receipt of services. In addition, the evaluation will seek to explore the utility of the programme and its applicability across Scotland.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
13/NS/0054
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion