Let’s talk learning disabilities and A&E 

would you expect it that in 2022 all staff who work in A&E from the checking in Clarks, cleaners, Health care assisstsnts, nurses and doctors have basic training on supporting our fabulous people who have a learning disability and communication barriers? Let me tell you they don’t!!!! And they don’t have it as part of mandatory training but are only offered the chance to attend if they want to with some hospitals encouraging new staff to attended the training on learning disability as part of an induction. 

I am a manager of a care home and supported living Service in Bexhill and I recently experienced some challenges where a lack of understanding, lack of communication, lack of training, lack of listening to the voice of the people supporting our guys and was treated in away that shocked me and caused me to really think we need change.

I have now made it my mission to be the voice of my lovely residents and think on each shift in A&E at least one person should be fully trained in Supporting people with disabilities and communication difficulties and they should be the one person who;

1) understands hospital passport and the importance of reading them and implementing them.
2) is fully trained in Autism and learning disabilities 
3) ensure reasonable adjustments are made
4) the voice of the person supporting the people with additional-needs are listen too and not pushed away.

I have spoken to the hospital directly, the liaison learning disabilitie nurse and adult social care but I have arranged a meeting with them to try and push that this happens locally but also this needs to happen in every A&E….. 

Who is willing to put a signature on a petition will need 10,000 to get this to the health secretary 

I want All A&E’s in the uk to have a trained person on a shift at all times who will be the one who can start the assessments in A&E