Achieve together was delighted to be involved in sponsoring this one-day conference on 12 September, organised by Learning Disability Today and Kingston University. The day brought together a packed audience of people with learning disabilities, families and a range of professionals/advocates.
Independent Consultant Nurse Jim Blair and a strong team of people with learning disabilities skillfully facilitated the event. Speakers included Sir Norman Lamb and others emphasising the importance of action, to actively and properly listen to people and ensure effective health checks and health action plans.
Topics on the agenda discussed how we can overcome barriers to accessing healthcare with the aim of reducing health inequalities and by putting people with a learning disability at the heart of their care. Debates also covered the current workforce crisis, who we need to recruit to the sector and how.
At the end of the conference speakers discussed the action we need and where we go next.
Campaign 4 Change member Philippa Hoey described the conference as ‘powerful’. She said “It’s great to see everyone thinking the same way, and that people with learning disabilities are being heard. People with learning disabilities need to be at the centre of health planning.”
