Annual Health Checks
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Annual Health Checks for children/young people with learning disabilities aged 14+
Annual Health Checks are for adults and young people aged 14 or over with a learning disability. An Annual Health Check helps them stay well by talking about their health and finding any problems early, so they get the right care. We understand that your child may also see a Community or Hospital Paediatrician and that they also check your child’s health. However, the annual health check is still very important for your child to have from the age of 14 with their GP. This will enable them to familiarise themselves with their GP and the services offered at the practice.
GP practices across Warrington offer Annual Health Checks to people aged 14 years and older with a profound, severe, moderate or mild learning disability, who have several health needs and are on the learning disability register.
The Annual Health Check is completed by a healthcare professional at the patient’s GP practice and involves assessing, monitoring and treating any existing health conditions as well as detecting any undiagnosed health conditions.
At the end of the health check the health professional will develop an easy read Health Check Action Plan which will detail health goals for the patient and who is responsible for achieving these goals.
Learning Disability Register
If you care for someone with a learning disability, they can get extra support when visiting their doctor – all you or they have to do is ask for their name to be added to the GP learning disability register. You can help them do this by talking to their doctor’s surgery or use the tear off slip on the parent friendly letter using the link below.
Once on the register they are entitled to an Annual Health Check every year. There are lots of reasons why they should have one, including:
- Not always knowing if they are unwell – the doctor can spot signs that you or the individual might miss,
- Getting better treatment – for example new medication
- It offers an opportunity for them to talk to the doctor about anything worrying them
- The doctor can provide advice on lifestyle choices, such as diet
- They can have more control in their own health and body
Make sure the doctor gives them a health action plan after the health check – this includes goals for them and the doctor to work towards together.
WarrPAC have worked with the CCG to produce a letter with all the information and this includes a tear off slip which you can print and give to your GP Surgery .
Click here to find out more. This will open a new page with the letter that you need to add your child/young person to the Learning Disabilities register.