This website is aimed at people working to drive forward improvements in acute hospital services for people with learning disabilities throughout the South West of England.
Action is underway to improve the patient experience and reduce the level of health inequalities experienced by people with a learning disability and their families. The Strategic Health Authority will be working with commissioners to co-ordinate a peer review of acute hospitals ability to meet the needs of people with learning disability throughout NHS South West between September and October 2010. » Find out more about the review.
Making involvement count
An important aspect of the peer review was the leading role played by people with a learning disability and their carers. The two video clips below capture their thoughts about the review process and being part of the team.
Easy read

People with a learning disability are:
- More likely to die before the age of 50
- More likely to die of respiratory disease
- More likely to have epilepsy
- More likely to have weight problems, and
- More likely to have mental health problems.
See the person, not the disability
We support Mencap’s Getting it right charter
- All people with a learning disability have an equal right to healthcare
- All healthcare professionals have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to the treatment they provide to people with a learning disability
- All healthcare professionals should provide a high standard of care and treatment and value the lives of people with a learning disability
Latest news
- Making involvement count
- Revised Self Assessment Document March 2011
- National Conference Presentations
- Visiting your local hospital – a perspective from people who use the service
- January 2011 Review Event Presentations
- ‘Six Lives’ progress report
- NHS Outcomes Framework consultation
- Site review dates
- Acute hospital review team briefing
- Government launches white paper ‘Equity and excellence: liberating the NHS’