Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Health checks on the horizon
- Author:
- TAYLOR Amy
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 4.12.08, 2008, pp.26-27.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
England is to roll out annual health checks for people with learning disabilities. It will draw on the experience in Wales. Hertfordshire is cited as an example of one Council in England who are already providing health checks for people with learning disabilities.
Can facilitators bridge the health gap?
- Author:
- JULIAN George
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, September 2008, pp.35-37.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
The author examines the findings of a study highlighting the steps needed to enable people with learning disabilities to get a decent standard of health care.
Understanding and overcoming barriers to substance abuse treatment access for people with mental retardation
- Author:
- SLAYTER Elspeth M.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, 7(2), 2008, pp.63-80.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
People with learning disabilities have experienced greater levels of freedom and access to community living in the USA over the past 40 years, and this includes access to alcohol and illicit drugs. Although the risks attendant on substance abuse are known to be greater for those with learning disabilities, there is insufficient good quality knowledge about accessible and effective treatment approaches. People with learning disabilities also face barriers in accessing treatment because of: the fragmentation of substance abuse and mental health/learning disability service provision; the lack of knowledge and expertise on concurrent treatment approaches; paradigm clashes between the rights/empowerment approach to learning disability and the abstinence/responsibility approach to substance abuse; and the lack of clinical knowledge and tools. The implications for research and social work practice are discussed.
Improving the mental health and psychological well-being of children and young people: national CAMHS review interim report
- Author:
- CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES REVIEW
- Publisher:
- Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services Review
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 38p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The report highlights some areas on which service providers and commissioners will need to focus if the ten-year objectives set out in Standard 9 of the Children’s National Service Framework (NSF) are to be achieved. The Annex to the Report offers best practice guidance to assist achievement. In the short term the Report focuses on progress towards the achievement of the Public Service Agreement (PSA) target of a comprehensive children and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) in all parts of England by the end of 2006. This is measured by availability of services for young people with learning disabilities, 16 and 17 year olds, and 24 hour cover and next day specialist assessment, which are sustainable and locally-provided. The Report also makes specific recommendations for CAMHS commissioners and providers of services to ensure the delivery of good practice in the medium-term and summarises the extent of progress which CAMHS should expect to achieve by the mid-point in the NSF 10 year cycle in order to achieve the full programme.
Catch-all solution
- Author:
- HUNT Louise
- Journal article citation:
- Health Service Journal, 24.7.08, 2008, pp.26-27.
- Publisher:
- Emap Healthcare
The health of people who have learning disabilities has long been neglected. The author discusses the role of liaison nurses in primary care in improving access to health checks and care.
WHO Atlas on Global Resources for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities 2007: key findings relevant for low- and middle-income countries
- Authors:
- MERCIER Celine, at al.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 5(2), June 2008, pp.81-88.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The World Health Organization (WHO) Atlas-ID project was designed to collect, compile, and disseminate information on intellectual disabilities (ID) services and resources from across the world. This paper aims at selecting findings in the Atlas-ID that can be used as a tool for advocacy, human rights awareness, development planning, and monitoring changes regarding resources for persons with intellectual disabilities and their families in countries with the lowest levels of income in the world. After consultation with experts in the field of ID, a questionnaire and its accompanying glossary were developed. This questionnaire was completed by national respondents from 147 countries, areas, and territories that are WHO members (response rate of 74.6% corresponding to 94.6% of the world population). Cross-tabulations were calculated according to WHO region that the countries belong to as well as their levels of income. The data from the Atlas-ID allowed for documenting similarities and differences among the poorest and the richest countries of the world in relation to ID. The most striking differences pertain to the areas of information, judicial protection, government benefits, financing, availability, and access to services. The Atlas-ID allowed the identification of similarities and differences in resources and services between the four World Bank categories of countries' income, and it demonstrated the extent of unmet needs in low-income and low-middle-income countries, as well as some critical gaps between these countries and the high-level income countries.
A cognitive behavioural intervention for dental anxiety for people with learning disabilities: a case study
- Authors:
- PRANGNELL Simon J., GREEN Karen
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 36(4), December 2008, pp.242-248.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Very little work has been done to investigate effective non-medical approaches for supporting people with a learning disability and dental anxiety to access dental care. Using a case study, this paper demonstrates that a simple cognitive behavioural intervention can be effective in reducing dental anxiety, and offer a more meaningful choice of treatment options. This paper is limited in that no formal assessment measures were used, and was evaluated through client feedback. It is possible that this intervention could be applied by other practitioners to increase the accessibility of dental health services.
Breast cancer screening in women with learning disabilities: current knowledge and considerations
- Authors:
- WILLIS Diane S., KENNEDY Catriona M., KILBRIDE Lynn
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 36(3), September 2008, pp.171-184.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
As people with learning disabilities now live longer, they will experience the same age-related illnesses as the general population and cancer is a prime example of this. In women, cancer screening is used to detect early on-set of cancer of the breast and abnormalities of the cervix which might, if left untreated, develop into cancer. The literature on cancer screening in women with learning disabilities consistently reports that cancer screening up-take is lower in this population compared to women in the general population. This paper presents a review of 35 articles relating to breast cancer, breast cancer screening and breast awareness in women with learning disabilities. Relevant papers and book chapters were located by searching a number of databases and undertaking hand searches, and includes publications from 1997 to 2007. The studies located ranged from localised health initiatives to improve breast awareness and breast screening up-take, to population studies. Although more is being published on cancer in people with learning disabilities there is still a paucity of literature on breast screening amongst women with learning disabilities. This review therefore, up-dates current knowledge on breast cancer incidence and breast awareness whilst critically reviewing studies specifically focusing on breast screening in women with learning disabilities.
Secure in-patient services for people with learning disability: is the market serving the user well?
- Authors:
- YACOUB Evan, HALL Ian, BERNAL Jane
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatric Bulletin, 32(6), June 2008, pp.205-207.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists can help in the development of better local services for people with learning disability by clearly defining the client group and their needs, involvement in the process of commissioning such services, and learning from colleagues in other service areas such as forensic psychiatry. This should help enable people with learning disability with very high needs to have similar access to services as others have.
Access to palliative care services by people with learning disabilities: is there equity?
- Authors:
- TUFFREY-WIJNE Irene, CURFS Leopold, HOLLINS Shelia
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, 2(2), June 2008, pp.42-48.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article explores access to palliative care services by people with learning disabilities. It is based on a study of specialist palliative care professionals in London, involving 32 semi-structured interviews and 543 postal questionnaires. The article focuses on one aspect of the finding, related to the current use of specialist palliative care services by people with learning disabilities. The results indicate that such services are under-used by this group. Possible reasons for low referral rates are discussed, including late diagnosis and lack of understanding among both learning disability services and palliative care services about each others' roles. The importance of collaboration, and the need for further staff training are highlighted.