Get the most from your learning disability annual health check
Download our checklist
It is important that everyone over the age of 14 who is on their doctor's learning disability register has an annual health check. This checklist is an updated version of a checklist we created and published in 2020, with support from people with lived experience of a learning disability or caring for someone with a learning disability.
Find out more about annual health checks in this easy read leaflet from Mencap.
The checklist is available and used by many GPs who can access the resource via computer systems linked to every surgery. GPs send the checklist out to people with a learning disability or their carer before the annual health check. The aim of the check is to promote good health and ensure better and longer lives.
In 2021/2022, GPs across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, GP surgeries achieved the highest annual health check completion rates in the South West. 18% completed 100% of their annual health checks.
In 2023, our area boasted an 83% completion rate of annual health checks – the highest rate in the South West. 98% leave annual health checks with a health action plan, compared to 53% previously.
Find out more about the impact of the checklist.
The checklist will be used to promote take-up of annual health checks, raise awareness of their importance, and contribute towards improving the health outcomes for those with Learning Disabilities. It will also raise awareness of Health Action Plans, highlighting factors that are sometimes missed (such as constipation) and the importance of health screenings (such as for breast and testicular cancer).
We would like to thank staff at The Orchard Medical Centre in Kingswood and the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Group for their support in creating this checklist.
