Physical health care for people with learning disability

If you have a learning disability, tell your doctor (GP), and get access to extra support.

The video below from Mencap explains why you should not miss out when it comes to your health if you have a learning disability.

Learning Disability Register

The Learning Disability Register is a list of people with a learning disability who use a particular GP surgery. This list helps doctors adjust the care you receive, to make sure that you get the right support when you go to see your doctor.

You can be any age and have any level of disability to join the learning disability register and get extra support. Children and young people can join the register, as well as adults. This means adjustments and support can be put in place for young people before they start using adult services.

You do not have to join the Learning Disability Register but joining makes it easier to access the right healthcare for you, including an annual health check.

The NHS has a legal responsibility to make it as easy for disabled people to use health services as it is for people who are not disabled. This is called making reasonable adjustments. You can tell your doctor about any reasonable adjustments you need to see them, for example, a longer appointment or an appointment at a quiet time in the day.

How do I join?

Ask the receptionist at your doctor's surgery if you are on the learning disability register. If you are not on the register, you will need to make an appointment with your doctor to tell them that you have a learning disability.

Mencap has more information and guides to the Learning Disability Register, including guides in Easy Read format and languages other than English.

• Mencap guides to the Learning Disability Register

Annual Health Checks

People with a learning disability sometimes do not realise that they have a health problem, and this could put them at risk of serious long-term illnesses, such as poorer physical and mental health. An annual health check can improve a young person's health by spotting problems earlier, and can help to:

• learn new ways of how to look after themselves
• become independent and healthy
• detect illnesses before they become serious
• ask for help and advice.

Anyone aged 14 or over who is on their doctor's learning disability register can have a free annual health check once a year.

You can ask to go on this register if you think you have a learning disability.

Check with your doctor's practice if you or the person you care for is on the register.

You can find out more about annual health checks for people with learning disabilities on the NHS website.