New Mencap report - My Health, My Life: Problems getting healthcare for people with a learning disability when coronavirus came

[VictoriaCA_Mencap]

Hi everyone,

Mencap have launched a new report called: My Health, My Life: Problems getting healthcare for people with a learning disability when coronavirus came.

The full report can be found here along with an Easy Read version: mencap.org.uk/myhealthmylife

It’s about what it was like for people with a learning disability who needed help from their GP or hospital since coronavirus came in March.

The report shares some stories of people who didn’t get the extra support they needed to have good healthcare. It also shows when they got good healthcare.

My colleague, Leroy, who works as a Campaigns Assistant at Mencap, was interviewed on ITV news about the report and his experience of going to hospital.

You can watch his interview here: itv.com/news/2020-12-05/cov...

We would like people who work in hospitals to read the report and hear people’s stories.

We want them to remember they must still make reasonable adjustments for people with a learning disability so they get good healthcare.

In January, we'll be emailing our Treat me well supporters with some small actions they can take to help promote the report. You can join the campaign by signing up here: secure.mencap.org.uk/treat-...

I will also keep you all updated on Health Unlocked.

Victoria

Campaigns Officer

[crazysquirrel Moderator]

Thanks Victoria. Leroy is great in the interview. Great work.

[jow2319]

Thanks for posting this. What a great version of the report in easy read. Jo

[LDAutie]

One of the problems I have had during the pandemic is my neurologist (who is a top guy,I’ve known him for a long time) has made appointments for me; over the phone (I’m non verbal) due to staff wanting to talk to him,so it’s down to support staff to speak for me which I don’t like because I rarely know to tell them how I’m feeling and they rarely ask.

they’re not all trained in epilepsy as im the only person here with it so the company don’t think it’s worth paying for training as well as my other neuro conditions so they tell him I’ve not had a seizure in ages when it shoud be clear to most untrained people I have.

he knows I hate it so he has just sent a nhs letter saying all my appointments will from now on be in person, he is a great guy and so cool.