Disability Sheffield
Zoom: A A A A Current Page  »  About  /  Blog  /  Blog Article

#MyGPandMe Campaign for People with Learning Disabilities or Autism

The learning disability charity Dimensions have launched a campaign to make GP practices more accessible for people with learning disabilities.

The #MyGPandMe campaign follows the publishing of Dimensions’ MyGPandMe Research which found that almost a third of people with learning disabilities or autism feel less likely to be treated with care and concern at the doctors, and two thirds said their GP did not make reasonable adjustments for them.

These findings also come after the EHRC revelation that people with learning disabilities are five times more likely to end up in hospital for preventable issues that can be treated by their GP. The Learning Disabilities Mortality Review program also found that men with learning disabilities live 23 years less than the general population, and women with learning disabilities live up to 29 years less.

During the Dimensions research, 98% of the GPs they spoke to claimed that they would benefit from a training session run by people with learning disabilities or autism. Currently, student GPs receive no mandated face-to-face training around caring for people with learning disabilities, and little training around implementing reasonable adjustments to make a service accessible.

The campaign aims to make doctors’ surgeries more accessible for people with learning disabilities or autism. Dave Robinson, Dimensions Health Campaign Manager believes that this can be achieved with the right training, a change in perceptions and a more person-centered approach to health care.

Dimensions have created a dedicated MyGPandMe results page which details the findings of the research in a quick and simple manner, making it easy to read through the findings and understand the problems faced by people with learning disabilities when they visit their doctors.

The MyGPandMe homepage is a great place to visit if you would like to quickly understand the issues the campaign is trying to tackle as it includes a useful video as well as links to information about Dimensions GP Training and a specially designed Flyer to encourage your GP to become more learning disability and autism friendly.

Share

Categories

Leave a comment

Blog Archive

Articles by Category

Articles by Tag

Articles by Date

* indicates required

Sign up to our latest news on local and national disability related issues and events

Recent Feedback    (We'd love to receive your feedback, please click here to add some)

Disability Sheffield is a forward-thinking, energetic organisation doing a lot of positive work in Sheffield. I have no doubt they will continue to do so for a long time to come.
The service received was rated as:  

Ruth

A fantastic presentation thought provoking and good questions from the floor around promoting this film/message to the general public not just professionals.
The service received was rated as:  

training feedback

Very good presentation, brave of the speakers to tell their stories and had a very high impact - feedback from Mate/Hate Crime presentation and video session at Safeguarding Working Together Conference
The service received was rated as:  

feedback training

When I moved to Sheffield nearly five years ago it was my "go to" organisation. I expect it to stay that way. All the staff and volunteers seem to pull out little gems of effort that disabled people like me couldn't do without. Professionally and personally - I love em :)
The service received was rated as:  

Andrew Crooks