For resources covering consultations, annual health checks, preparing for hospital visits, reporting a death, and current campaigns and sources of easy-read materials, visit the Learning Disabilities & Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDD) Resources section (see Resources).

What is a learning disability?

According to Valuing people: A new strategy for learning disability for the 21st century, the government White Paper for England about health and social care support for people with a learning disability (2001), an individual who has a learning disability has the presence of:

• a significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information or to learn new skills
• a reduced ability to cope independently
• an impairment that started before adulthood, with a lasting effect on development.

This means that the person will find it harder to understand, learn and remember new things, and means that the person may have problems with a range of things such as communication, being aware of risks or managing everyday tasks.

What is a learning difficulty?

A learning difficulty is not a learning disability. People with learning difficulties can be supported by the Special Educational Needs (SEN) system. 

Learning difficulties include:

• dyslexia
• dyspraxia
• difficulties arising from brain injury occurred later in life
• ADHD
• dementia.

Area specific guidance for Camden

Here is a selection of useful information for GPs and carers of those with learning disabilities:

• visit Contacts for Carers, a comprehensive list of Camden organisations to support carers
• view the presentations and webcasts from the CamEd RCGP learning disability session from 17 May 2017
• learn how to perform the searches and find out the codes that need to be added to add a patient with learning disabilities to the register.

Area specific guidance for Barnet

BUDDS Down Syndrome pathway

• BUDDS: Combined care pathway to support professionals and families with Down Syndrome

COVID-19 resources

• COVID-19 vaccination resources for people with learning disabilities

Say No to Abuse

• Patient leaflet: Safeguarding adults from abuse in Barnet
• Patient leaflet: What happens after you report abuse

My Health Matters

In Barnet, a new Health Action Plan called My Health Matters has been developed. My Health Matters folders are given out to everyone with a learning disability in Barnet. Service users, carers and families can contact the service via the duty desk to arrange training by phoning t: 020 8359 6161.