A workshop has been arranged by NHS Hertfordshire, supported by the JCT, that is about hospital pathways for adults with learning disabilities and autism.  The Strategic Health Authority recently prepared some paperwork about the project, which is attached here, and each of the hospitals have been asked to prepare a self assessment.

 

An important aspect of this event is for providers to hear directly from people with learning disabilities, family carers and people who might advocate on their behalf.

 

The workshop will operate like a 'market place' with providers having 'stalls' to demonstrate god practice and discuss areas for improvement.  It will be similar to the Big Health Day, for those who were there.

 

The date for the workshop is 4th October and it starts with lunch at 12:30.  It is going to be held at the Fielder Centre. 

 

Catherine Pelley has prepared a summary for how the afternoon will run:

·         Event will take ½day starting after lunch with users and carers able to provide input to the providers and stakeholders in the room regarding their experiences of health services in Hertfordshire as somebody with or a carer of somebody with a learning disability

·         In advance providers will have been asked to complete the self-assessment internally so that they come and demonstrate good practice and areas for development

·         Providers will feedback using a market place model to allow people to wander round and seek feedback in a relaxed environment

·         Once providers and users have had the opportunity to set out what is good practice and challenges, the users and carers will be able to leave.

·         Providers and other stakeholders will remain to develop an action plan which will then be consulted on with users and carers

·         Actions plans will need to be provider specific, but based an overall strategic action plan which will set out the health economy priorities for improvements for patients with learning disabilities and enable discussions regarding quality priorities and CQUIN opportunities for the contract round for 2012/13 to be included

 

It would be great to have a really good turn out for the afternoon, so that experiences, ideas and links can be shared and I hope that this will be another important step towards improving health services for people with learning disabilities, which I know is important to us all.

 

Transport can be provided for people with a learning disability or carers who are unable to access the Fielder Centre any other way.  Please drop me a line to let me know.