Health Innovation East Midlands granted £2000 to Nottingham West PCN to engage with people living locally who have learning disabilities – to see how local services could better support them to live more healthily.

One year on, the PCN in partnership with LLeisure, has reached hundreds of people by holding six roadshows with patients with learning disabilities, their parents and carers alongside local partners from the health, care and voluntary sector. The events brought everyone together to raise awareness of the local services available and to make improvements to how they could work together better to benefit people’s health.

As a result of discussions initiated at these roadshows, staff who work in GP and community services – such as Trainee Nurse Associates - are spending three-week placements in Adult Day Services to help them to build their confidence in communicating with and understanding the needs of people with learning disabilities, seeing gold standard relationship building role modelled. The placements have proven to be successful and three other PCNs are now also interested in rolling out this approach.

Gym staff at leisure centres are also being specially trained to give 1:1 support and a local programme for reception and administration staff is also being developed.

The roadshows also encouraged people to try out social and physical activities such as Nordic walking, tandem riding and Boccia – and sessions are being established locally to encourage people to get involved and benefit their physical and mental health.

Chloe Corden, LLeisure said: “The events helped us to bridge the gap between health and leisure – supporting vulnerable people to be active and improve their health – both mentally and physically. It helped us to build up contacts that will make it easier for us to work together and improve services.”

Clare Watson, Health Inequalities Lead at the PCN continued: “Bringing everyone together, also gave health services space to talk to people about health checks and blood pressure checks for example – to understand why some people may not be accessing these annual checks that they are entitled to. Using feedback from these events, we are improving the way people with learning disabilities can access flu vaccination clinics, annual health checks, smear tests and other health services.”

A final showcase event is being held this month to bring together the learning from the 2022/23 roadshows and plan next steps.

Read the report here