Get involved in research on healthcare access for adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults
This research project seeks to understand how adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults experience healthcare access, what the barriers are and how we can improve this.
Research has shown that the life expectancy of adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults is up to 20 years shorter than the general population (Mencap 2023) and the life expectancy of people with a learning disability who are from ethnic minority backgrounds is just over half the life expectancy of white counterparts (Race Equality Foundation 2023). These health inequalities are the result of “poor quality healthcare causing avoidable deaths” (Healthwatch England 2022).
Healthwatch England (2022) made a series of recommendations to drive improvement, including holding providers to account for delivering the accessible information standard and involving people with learning disabilities in service design. Likewise, the Race Equality Foundation (2023) advise “Coproduction is one of the best ways of helping to address health inequalities. We need to hear patient voices more and act on any disparity.”
Our project seeks to help deliver these recommendations by asking service users and their carers what changes they would like to see. We will also collect feedback from service providers, whose perspective has thus far been underrepresented in studies on the topic.
How to support this project:
We are looking for adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults, their carers and healthcare professionals who provide services for this group to take part in this research.
Participants must be Southwark residents OR work for care providers in Southwark.
There are two ways to get involved:
The survey will close on Friday 19th January.
- Come to Cafe Conversations
The cafes provide an opportunity for service providers to come into community spaces and hear feedback in an informal setting.
The aim is to identify the barriers to healthcare access for this group and work together to find solutions.
Quiet spaces and free refreshments will be available.
Participants will be offered £10 Love2Shop vouchers for their time.
Cafe Conversations will take place in February 2024.
Please contact ruman@healthwatchsouthwark.org or 07599653479 if you have any questions.
Sources:
Learning Disability - Health Inequalities Research | Mencap
Your care, Your way | Healthwatch
