THURSDAY, 4 MAY, 2023

Photograph attached: staff nurse Lynn Campbell (left) and charge nurse Cheryl Gray

Perth team improving care for people with a learning disability

A team which provides intensive support to people with learning disabilities in Perth & Kinross has introduced new clinics to help identify potential health issues as early as possible.

The Learning Disability Intensive Support Service (LDISS) at Murray Royal Hospital aims to prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital by offering intensive nursing health assessments over a set period of time. This means people with a learning disability can be supported to live as safely and independently as possible in their own community. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, charge nurse Cheryl Gray and staff nurse Lynn Campbell introduced new weekly specialist nurse-led clinics which deliver therapeutic blood monitoring for patients requiring certain medications. The clinics offer flexible appointments and an accessible environment with the aim of reducing health inequalities and the early identification of potential issues.

Cheryl and Lynn produced a variety of digital and written resources to support patients and carers to understand the importance of attending the clinic as well as adaptations for additional support needs as required.

By creating a suitable environment and developing robust processes and pathways between the nurse-led clinics, consultants and local LD community teams, Cheryl and Lynn have introduced a person-centred and trauma-informed approach to care for people with a learning disability.

The team also secured additional funding for essential resources to develop outreach clinics for individuals who may not be able to attend due to the complexity of their needs. 

Feedback from patients, carers and consultants has described the service as being of great benefit to the learning disability population by promoting equitable, patient-centred access to health services.

Cheryl and Lynn won the Silver Innovation and Improvement Award with the team at the NHS Tayside STAR awards in 2022, and are excited about making the finals for the first ever RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards in June. They have been shortlisted for the Learning Disability Nursing Award which aims to recognise those who have succeeded in raising standards of care for their patients and clients and have made an outstanding contribution to the care of service users.

Cheryl said, “Lynn and I are deeply passionate about supporting people with learning disabilities and encourage everyone to consider a career in learning disabilities. The potential is limitless and the reward of knowing you have contributed to improving someone’s quality of life is priceless.”

People living with a learning disability experience considerably higher levels of health inequality compared with the general population, and the difference in life expectancy between those with a learning disability and the general population is 23 years for men and 27 years for women.

Contact:

Louise Wilson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718