Special event focuses on prescribing for people with learning disabilities

Healthcare professionals from across the country came together yesterday at a special event held to explore how people with learning disabilities get the best possible treatment. The event was hosted by South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust, which provides specialist NHS mental health and learning disability services to the people of Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.

The fact that people with learning disabilities are two and a half times more likely to have health problems set the backdrop for the day which shared the best approaches for prescribing and administering treatment for people with learning disabilities. It also considered possible new ways of working, to ensure care is individualised and delivered to the highest standard. The event attracted nurses, doctors, care workers and pharmacists from both the NHS and private care providers, alongside local authority staff.

Lynn Haygarth, chief pharmacist for the Trust spoke about the importance of monitoring the physical health of people with learning disabilities when prescribing and the chief pharmacist for Derbyshire Mental Health Trust, David Branford, reinforced the importance of involving individuals and their carers in their treatment plan, and making their options clear.

Assistant director of learning disabilities for South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust, Tim Breedon said, "The Trust was delighted to host such a successful event which gave our staff a unique opportunity to speak with clinical and academic staff from across the UK. When people with learning disabilities have other health conditions, such as epilepsy, there are many issues to consider when prescribing treatment. The event not only gave insight into the prescribing process for people with learning disabilities, but also looked at how that process can be developed."

He continued, "Ultimately we want people who use learning disability services to receive a first rate standard of care. Enriching our staff’s knowledge on prescribing issues will undoubtedly have a positive impact on local NHS learning disability services and continue to ensure that people with learning disabilities get the best possible treatment."