Better Care for Patients with Learning Disabilities

August 2016

Mental Health

Country of origin: UK

Click for Full Details: www.gmc-uk.org

The General Medical Council (GMC) has launched a new website to guide doctors treating patients who have a learning disability. The new website aims to increase doctors’ understanding of care of patients with learning disabilities and help them improve their skills in supporting them.

The 2008 independent inquiry headed by Sir Jonathan Michael for the Department of Health found strong evidence that people with a learning disability received poorer care and urged improvements in health services. A GMC-commissioned survey found that over half of doctors – including nearly two-thirds of GPs – think patients with learning disabilities generally receive a poorer standard of healthcare. One in three doctors has seen a patient with a learning disability receiving poorer quality care or facing discrimination.

The site is a practical tool that can be used as a refresher before a consultation, but has the capacity to be used for all levels of learning, including in classroom teaching.

Click for Full Details: www.gmc-uk.org

Resources

A positive start to healthier minds September 2017 The National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being includes extensive sections on Early Years and Children &...

Website uses scientific testing to increase happiness September 2017 A professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, Martin Seligman, PhD, has developed a series of scientifically...

Debt and Mental Health August 2017 One in three people with a serious mental health problem are in debt. A new booklet provides practical advice for health...

Mental Capacity Act Directory August 2017 The Social Care Institute for Excellence has published a new Mental Capacity Act (MCA) Directory, an online collection of...

Medicines Management Is Everybody?s Business July 2017 A leaflet has been published which aims to empower service users and carers to ask relevant questions about medication and...

Improving emotional wellbeing in postnatal care April 2017 This report looks into the experiences of midwives, maternity support workers, student midwives and mothers around the...

Website attempts to reduce teen suicide and depression April 2017 Attempted suicide continues to grow among teenagers and girls are at greatest risk, according to a suicide prevention...

Guideline on the Management of Attention Deficit and Hyperkinetic Disorders March 2017 The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network has issued a guideline on the management of attention deficit and...

Psychiatric Times March 2017 Despite an increased prevalence of psychiatric conditions and a greater number of drugs available to treat them, mental...

Emergency mental health care checklist March 2017 GPs' role in planning and providing care for patients with mental health problems who access emergency care services is...