At People First, we're proud to support a ground-breaking research project that aims to improve healthcare experiences and outcomes for people with learning disabilities across the North West.
A team of eight co-researchers, with and without learning disabilities, are working together to explore how widely reasonable adjustments are being used within healthcare settings. By combining lived experience with research expertise, the team is gathering valuable insights into what is working well and where improvements are still needed.
Why This Research Matters
People with learning disabilities continue to face significant health inequalities. Too often, barriers to accessing healthcare result in poorer health outcomes, avoidable illness, and preventable deaths.
Reasonable adjustments are changes that healthcare services can make to ensure people with learning disabilities can access care in a way that meets their individual needs. These adjustments might include providing easy-read information, offering longer appointment times, ensuring clear communication, or making changes to the healthcare environment.
When reasonable adjustments are made effectively, people are better able to access healthcare, understand information about their health, and receive the care they need.
Working Together for Change
This important project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and will provide valuable feedback to healthcare providers and the NHS. The findings will help shape how the NHS Long Term Plan for Health is delivered, ensuring that services work better for people with learning disabilities and create more equitable healthcare experiences for everyone.
By listening to healthcare professionals and learning from their experiences, the research team hopes to identify both good practice and opportunities for improvement across the region.
Have Your Say
If you work in healthcare, your views are incredibly important. The survey is short and will help researchers understand how reasonable adjustments are currently being implemented in healthcare settings.
By taking part, you'll be contributing to a project that has the potential to improve healthcare outcomes, reduce inequalities, and support more inclusive services for people with learning disabilities.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey using the link below.
Together, we can help build a healthcare system that works for everyone.