Well-attended University event focuses on how to improve healthcare access for people with learning disabilities
Ensuring people living with learning disabilities get equitable access to healthcare was the focus of a well-attended public discussion at the University of Chester.
The Learning Disabilities: Future Directions event saw an audience of experts by experience, including representatives from the Canal Street Self-Advocacy Group/Inclusive Training Team and Wirral Mencap, several of whom took part in the panel to discuss their experiences of health and social care and the changes need to make services more accessible and equitable for all, in addition to training Learning Disability Nurses. Also in attendance were their families and carers, health and social care professionals and students.
It was opened by Professor Basma Ellahi, Associate Dean of Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Society at the University of Chester. She emphasised the strong links the University’s Faculty of Health, Medicine and Society has of working with people with lived experience and local service providers of health and social care to explore and improve care provision.
Highlights of the day included a panel of people with lived experience of intellectual disabilities/autism, and a presentation of research into health inequities experienced by marginalised groups in cancer care by Professor Martin McMahon from Trinity College Dublin.
Specialist Community Practitioner Gavin Williams gave a presentation on the development of virtual reality videos for users of services in the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) NHS Trust. Gavin is a Specialist Community Practitioner who has worked with the Centre for Autism, Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Intellectual Disabilities (CANDDID), led by Professor Sujeet Jaydeokar, to make health services more accessible for people with intellectual disabilities.
Additionally Charlie Ingram, CWP Head of Operations, gave insights into the importance of learning disabilities nurses within health services and the value of their transferable skills.
Dr Marie Chollier, a Senior Lecturer and psychologist at the University of Chester, with a special interest in human rights and the inclusion of marginalised groups, said of the event: “I think it was amazing in terms of inclusion, the visual minutes, and the pace and time given to all experts.”
John Heritage, Chief Executive of Cheshire-based educational and residential support charity David Lewis, added: “I attended the Learning Disabilities: Future Directions conference led by Dr Hazel Chapman.
“What a fabulous combination of academic insights into key areas affecting the lives of people with a learning disability including screening and diagnostics for cancer alongside first-hand lived experience insights from a number of people who draw on support. A really thought-provoking day that will influence policy and practice including in my organisation.”