Annual Evidence Update on Health Needs of People with Learning Disabilities: 29 June – 3 July 2009

People with learning disabilities have a higher level of health needs than the general population, many of which are unmet. The Learning Disability Health Needs Annual Evidence Update provides evidence summaries and bibliographies of published research for some key health issues:

• Cancer
• Challenging behaviour
• Coronary heart disease
• Epilepsy
• Respiratory illness
• Visual Impairment and People with Learning Disabilities

We know that many people with learning disabilities do not to seek out support from the healthcare system unaided, and that healthcare issues can remain undiagnosed or untreated. The publication of the findings of the independent inquiry into healthcare for people with learning disabilities (the Michael Report) identified a range of actions needed to ensure adults and children with learning disabilities receive appropriate treatment in acute and primary healthcare in England, and the Department of Health recently updated good practice guidance on Health Action Planning and Health Facilitation.

Find out more at www.library.nhs.uk/learningdisabilities