Health screening for people with learning disabilities by a community learning disability nursing service in Northern Ireland

Over the last 30 years there has been a considerable increase in the life e xpectancy of people with learning disabilities. This has resulted in changi ng patterns of morbidity and mortality and an increasing recognition of the health needs of people with learning disabilities. Major strides forward h ave been made in the reduction of preventable illnesses among the general p opulation. However, among people with learning disabilities such illnesses have received only limited health promotion attention until recently. In th e last decade major gaps have been identified in the ability of current pri mary health services to respond to the needs of people with learning disabi lities. The need to respond effectively to this situation has been identifi ed as a priority by the current United Kingdom Government, Following an ove rview of the literature in relation to the changing health profile of peopl e with learning disabilities and the need for health screening, considerati on is given to some of the key difficulties which may be encountered when a ttempting to utilize current primary health services. The analysis of data derived from the health screening of 373 people with learning disabilities by a community nursing service in Down and Lisburn Health and Social Servic es Trust reveals the need for further action in relation to cardiovascular status, sensory deficits, mobility and aspects of sexual health.