About the service
Learning disability liaison nurses at St Mary's hospital on the Isle of Wight can provide support and guidance to staff and patients. The service can:
- give advice, support and training to staff about caring for people with a learning disability
- help with planning admissions including day surgery and discharge meetings
- link with specialist learning disability services, families, carers, GPs and other organisations.
What we do
The team support people with a learning disability who are coming into hospital and ensure they are not discriminated against due to their disability. They are also here to improve services for patients with a learning disability so they find it easier to access our hospital, to raise awareness about the needs of people with a learning disability and to ensure we are implementing reasonable adjustments. This includes supporting with any reasonable adjustments, asking for a patient’s hospital passport (My Life a Full Life) or offering double appointment slots and offering first or last appointments of the day to minimise the distress of waiting in a busy noisy environment. The team can also
- Inform the LD Liaison Team of any appointments or admissions.
- Beware of jargon – use simple language. See Easy read Leaflets
- Check capacity and apply for an independent mental capacity advocate if there is no next of kin/only paid carer involved.
- Many people with a learning disability live in supported living accommodation – not in residential or nursing care. This means they live in their own flats with a care package which may take time to get restarted. It is very important to plan discharge carefully – a meeting may be required if there are changes in the patient’s needs.
How to find us
St. Mary’s Hospital, Pankhurst Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5TG
Contact information
To refer to the LD Liaison team please contact:
Telephone: 01983 822099
ext. 5478
Mobile: 07795 121674