| Clinical Directed Enhanced Services (DES) |
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There is good evidence that patients with learning disabilities (LD) have more health problems and die at a younger age than the rest of the population. |
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The existing QOF registers do not differentiate LD by severity. There are estimated to be 240,000 people with moderate to severe LDs in England known to social services. |
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The DES is designed to encourage practices to identify those patients with moderate to severe LD as defined by the same criteria used by the local authority |
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Practices will be expected to provide an annual health check to patients on the local authority LD register. Practices are recommended to use the Cardiff health check protocol or a protocol as agreed locally with the PCT. |
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Click here to find out more about the DES.
Click here to download the Cardiff health check protocol. |
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Health checks should integrate with the patients’ personal health record or health action plan. Where possible, and with the consent of the patient, this should involve carers and support workers. |
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Practices should liaise with relevant local support services such as social services and educational support services in addition to learning disability health professionals. |