Our learning disability acute liaison nurses are a team of experienced professionals who provide specialist advice and support when adults with a learning disability access care in our hospitals.
The team works closely with colleagues to help ensure patients with learning disabilities receive safe, person-centred care. This includes supporting reasonable adjustments and promoting effective communication to meet individual needs.
The definition of a learning disability is:
A significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information, to learn new skills (impaired intelligence), with a reduced ability to cope independently (impaired social functioning), which started before adulthood.”
(Department of Health and Social care definition, 2001).
Please note:
The team currently does not provide direct support for adults with a diagnosis of autism. However, appropriate reasonable adjustments should be made where required, in line with our commitment to inclusive care.
Eligibility criteria
- People aged 18 years (or who will be 18 within a few months)
- Anyone with a diagnosis of a learning disability who needs specialist support
Unfortunately, our team are unable support adults who are neurodivergent this includes autism, ADHD and learning difficulties.
For patients who have autism they can seek help, support, and resources though Chat Autism, which is provided by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust. Chat Autism is a messaging service that providers a safe and easy way for people with autism to send a text message to a healthcare professional and get confidential help and advice. You can contact them via text on 07312 277097.
Helping me in Hospital booklet
This resource is recommended to be provided to all patients with a learning disability for completion with their family or caregivers. This will help hospital staff obtain written information regarding the individual’s specific care needs, baseline information and reasonable adjustments.
Helping Me in Hospital booklet (272kB pdf)