Learning Disabilities & Autism

We are committed to providing a responsive service that recognises the needs of those patients who may be disadvantaged in accessing care and treatment due to disability or other health inequalities.

People with learning disabilities and/or Autism can have high health needs that can at times go unrecognised and unmet. This in turn can impact on life expectancy as well as quality of life. It can also mean that they are likely to be frequent users of general hospital services.

The Trust has a Learning Disability Liaison Nurse to help support people with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism and their families and carers who access the hospital for any reason.

The Liaison Nurse works clinically with patients every day, as well as ensuring that staff are given advice and support so that reasonable adjustments can be made to patient care.

The Learning Disability and Autism Liaison Nurse aims to play a crucial role in raising the profile and status of people with a learning disability and/or Autism who attend the James Paget Hospital.

What services are provided?

The Learning Disability Liaison Nurse can help with the following:

• Communication advice
• Pre-admission and discharge planning
• Desensitisation planning
• Service user education
• Carer support and advice
• Liaising with GPs, community teams and relevant organisations
• Capacity and Consent Advice
• Facilitation of outpatient appointments
• Pre-discharge planning
• Accessible information development
• Advice and support on reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities and/or Autism when accessing the JPUHFT.

How can I contact the department?

You can call directly on 01493 453732. 

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