A network of champions across GP surgeries in Sandwell has been set up and is being developed to help boost care for those with learning disabilities.
The Promoting Access to Mainstream Health Services (PAMHS) team at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust are working with local GP surgeries to identify practice staff that are interested in becoming learning disabilities champions.
Once a champion is identified the PAMHS team will work with them to offer specialist advice and information to help the GP surgery better support patients with learning disabilities.
The team also want to use champions to support surgeries in annual health checks, which are encouraged for patients with learning disabilities.
“Whilst there’s still more to do, we are really pleased with how the champion network is going” comments Dawn Garbett, Lead Nurse, PAMHS team.
“We are hoping this initiative not only makes GPs and surgery staff more confident in supporting learning disability patients, but that it also improves experience and boosts uptake for annual health checks.”
If you work within a GP surgery in Sandwell and are interested in becoming a champion please email dawn.garbett@nhs.net