The Department of Health has launched Valuing People Now, a new strategy presenting a new vision for improving services for people with learning disabilities across health, housing, employment and community care services.
Key aims of the Valuing People Now strategy include:
- ensuring people with learning disabilities get the healthcare they
need and the support they want to live healthy lives;
- supporting more people with learning disabilities, including those
with more complex needs, into paid work;
- ensuring people with learning disabilities have the choice to have
relationships, become parents and continue to be parents; and
- giving people with learning disabilities opportunities to study and
enjoy leisure and social activities.
The strategy also sets out the Government’s response to the ten main recommendations in Healthcare for All, the report of the independent inquiry into access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities, chaired by Sir Jonathan Michael. In response to the Independent Inquiry, the Department will:
- establish a confidential inquiry to investigate the premature deaths
of people with learning disabilities;
- commission a new Public Health Observatory to provide essential data
information at a national and local level; and
- work with the professional regulatory bodies to ensure medical
students and NHS professionals receive training on learning
disabilities, equalities and human rights.
These steps build upon measures already taken in response to the inquiry's report, such as annual GP health checks for people with learning disabilities and the 'reasonable adjustments' to general health services PCTs were directed to make in the NHS Operating Framework for 2009/10.
Simon Smith is Executive Director for Local Services within the Trust:
"Nottinghamshire Healthcare welcomes the publication of this new vision for people with learning disabilities. This three year strategy offers us an opportunity to continue to improve and strengthen local services.
“In particular we want to ensure that people get the healthcare they need and the support they want to live healthy lives. We will implement this strategy in partnership with other organisations including social care colleagues.”
