Health and Wellbeing

We want people to have the healthcare they need.

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Everyone should have access to the same quality of health care.

But people with a learning disability face severe health inequalities, including significantly shorter life expectancy. On average, men die 23 years earlier and women 27 years earlier than the general population. Six in ten die before age 65, compared to just one in ten among the wider population.

In Northern Ireland, specific data is limited, but UK research shows people with a learning disability are more likely to be underweight or obese and face greater health risks overall. Access to healthcare is also a major issue, with barriers such as poor communication, inaccessible information, and inadequate staff training leading to poorer outcomes.

Efforts to address these inequalities in NI are hindered by a lack of reliable data—GP registers estimate fewer than 1% of adults have a learning disability. Tackling these disparities requires better data collection, improved healthcare training, and policies tailored to the specific needs of this group

Changes Needed to Improve Health and Wellbeing

There need to be changes made to help people with a learning disability, autism and other support needs to get the healthcare they need.

To do this we need to look at

increasing the confidence in dentists, doctors and wider healthcare staff in supporting people with a learning disability
making accessible health information
co-producing healthcare plans and co-ordinating care and
making reasonable adjustments in healthcare environments.

Annual Health Checks

In Northern Ireland, adults with learning disabilities can access a special service called the Directed Enhanced Service (DES). This allows GPs and Health Care Facilitators to provide a detailed annual check-up for physical and mental health. The health check is a chance to talk about any mental health concerns, and we’re keen to learn how it works for people.

This service includes:

A physical examination
Review of any medications
Blood tests, if needed
An ECG (heart check)

Referrals for further treatment or tests
A personalized health and wellbeing plan created after the check-up
Information about health programs and support services.

Hospital Passport

The HSC Hospital Passport is a document developed for people with a learning disability to share key personal and medical information with hospital staff. It helps staff understand how the person communicates, their medical history, and what support they need, enabling them to make reasonable adjustments and deliver better, more personalised care.

You can download your hospital passport here. Fill it in, print it and bring it to the hospital.

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ARC NI advocates for and works towards

More learning disability awareness training for staff.

Increased numbers of annual health checks.

Accessible services for people who have a learning disability.

More Health Facilitators to help patients to get and understand health care services.

Better working between Community Learning Disability Teams and primary care staff.

Useful links

Public Health Agency

Patient and Client Council

National institute for Health and Care Excellence

Health Facilitation Team

Learning Disability Nurses

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