Annual Learning Disability Health Checks
NHS GPs in England can be paid to undertake annual health checks for people registered with them who have
learning disabilities and meet the eligibility criteria.
They must be:
• Aged 14 and over.
• On the practice learning disability health checks register.
Evidence suggests that providing health checks to people with learning disabilities in primary care is effective in identifying previously unrecognised health needs, including those associated with life threatening illnesses.
Learning disability annual health checks are different from the wider NHS health check scheme.
The learning disabilities health checks are designed to pick up a wider range of unmet health needs whereas the latter is intended to help individuals reduce their risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.
Learning disabilities health checks can help people with learning disabilities to use health services better by
understanding what their local GP service can provide for them and learning how to use it.
Health checks are needed because:
• Primary care services tend to be reactive, responding to problems raised by patients.
• People with learning disabilities may be unaware of the medical implications of symptoms they experience,
have difficulty communicating their symptoms or may be less likely to report them to medical staff
• Carers may not always attribute clinical symptoms to physical or mental illness
• Health checks provide a way to detect, treat and prevent new and unmet health conditions in this population.
To access this health check you should refer to you own GP for the Annual Health Checks,
or contact Sharon Raybold who can make the referral on your behalf.
Tel:01709 447744
Email: sharon.raybold@nhs.net
NHS GPs in England can be paid to undertake annual health checks for people registered with them who have
learning disabilities and meet the eligibility criteria.
They must be:
• Aged 14 and over.
• On the practice learning disability health checks register.
Evidence suggests that providing health checks to people with learning disabilities in primary care is effective in identifying previously unrecognised health needs, including those associated with life threatening illnesses.
Learning disability annual health checks are different from the wider NHS health check scheme.
The learning disabilities health checks are designed to pick up a wider range of unmet health needs whereas the latter is intended to help individuals reduce their risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.
Learning disabilities health checks can help people with learning disabilities to use health services better by
understanding what their local GP service can provide for them and learning how to use it.
Health checks are needed because:
• Primary care services tend to be reactive, responding to problems raised by patients.
• People with learning disabilities may be unaware of the medical implications of symptoms they experience,
have difficulty communicating their symptoms or may be less likely to report them to medical staff
• Carers may not always attribute clinical symptoms to physical or mental illness
• Health checks provide a way to detect, treat and prevent new and unmet health conditions in this population.
To access this health check you should refer to you own GP for the Annual Health Checks,
or contact Sharon Raybold who can make the referral on your behalf.
Tel:01709 447744
Email: sharon.raybold@nhs.net
