Dr Mark Brookes MBE, Advocacy Lead at Dimensions, discusses the national launch of Dimensions’ free #MyGPandMe training for healthcare professionals.
And the importance of making reasonable adjustments in primary healthcare settings for those with learning disabilities, autism, or complex needs
- What is your experience of primary healthcare settings?
I know from my own experiences that people with learning disabilities, autism or complex needs often face greater barriers or challenges in accessing primary healthcare – the #MyGPandMe campaign seeks to address this with practical guidance.
- What does the training entail?
This training has been developed by and alongside people with learning disabilities and those that support them – I am really proud to have played a part in this.
The training will help to teach GPs and other healthcare professionals about the reasonable adjustments they can make for individuals with learning disabilities, autism, or complex needs. This includes simple steps which can make a huge difference, such as booking longer appointments, or appointments at quiet times, and having accessible information on the surgery website.
Any healthcare professional can complete the training online, which features a number of videos from Experts by Experience at Dimensions, like me.
- Is this training necessary?
Yes, there is a lot of evidence that shows the importance of the training. Recent research from Dimensions found that 98% of GPs said they would benefit from training led by someone with lived experience. Also, 74% of GPs said that they would like training on making reasonable adjustments, for example when delivering annual health checks for people with a learning disability or autism.
In Dimensions’ most recent report, #MyGPandMe Building Back Better Together, just 22% of people said they felt independent in healthcare settings, while 33% of disabled people said they felt stressed and 43% said they felt worried when visiting the doctor.
The training also helps to address wider health inequalities, such as the fact that people with a learning disability die, on average, 25 years earlier than someone without a disability.
- Has COVID-19 had an impact on health inequality?
Lockdowns during the pandemic have had a large impact particularly on annual health checks. Everyone with a learning disability is entitled to an annual health check every year, but some of these were halted or became less accessible, with many carried out over the phone. These appointments are crucial in caring for people’s long-term health, especially those with disabilities.
The pandemic has also shown just how important it is to have training like #MyGPandMe in order to address long-term health inequalities. In fact, people with learning disabilities in England have been eight times more likely to die from COVID than the general population.
- What would you say to healthcare professionals considering taking this training?
I can’t encourage GPs and other health professionals enough to take part – I think the training is brilliant.
Now we are out of lockdown, more people with a learning disability will be able to have their annual health checks in person again. This training could make a real difference to the success of those appointments by helping GPs and surgery staff to make the adjustments people need. In fact, the training teaches people about reasonable adjustments which will be relevant both now and after the pandemic.
The training has also been created with the schedules of healthcare professionals and COVID in mind, being hosted online to make it as easy as possible to complete the e-learning.
The free whole-surgery training can be found at dimensions-uk.org/MyGPandMe.
