Improving annual health checks based on the health consultation experiences of people with learning disabilities

Abstract

Annual health checks in primary care improve the detection of health issues in people with learning disabilities. The NHS has set a target for at least 75% of people with learning disabilities aged 14 years or over to receive a health check every year by 2023-2024. However, not all primary care professionals are trained adequately in communicating with people with learning disabilities and the number of learning disability nurses in the NHS continues to decline. This article draws on the findings of a constructivist grounded theory study and other relevant literature to discuss the experiences of people with learning disabilities of interacting with healthcare professionals and what can be learned from these experiences to improve annual health checks.