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 NDT
Registered in England No. 27566R |
Initiatives
[Initiatives] The Best of HealthWhat is it all about?The Best of Health seeks to promote recognition of the unattended health needs of people with learning disabilities. It also seeks to advance valued and effective health practices and supportive health services for people with learning disabilities, their families and other carers. The Best of Health 'theme' is based on a set of clear principles:
Why is it needed?Traditionally, people with disabilities have had most of their health needs addressed in the context of 'specialist' health care related to the nature of their disability or as part of a social care service. A culture of dependency has grown on specialised, and typically segregated health services with little personal or organisational investment in accessing services which promote good general health. Recent NDT work has shown that many people with multiple and complex disabilities are severely limited in their ability and opportunity to enjoy greater independence in the community as a result of compromised health. We want to change that and need your help to do so. The Best of Health seeks to ensure that the right of people with learning disabilities to the best of health provision is not overlooked at a time of major restructuring in health and social care services. The theme will consider a range of issues pertinent to good health, including sexual health, emotional well being, health in times of transition and a healthy old age and compassionate services at the time of death. What is it seeking to achieve?1. To actively support the development of generic primary and secondary health care that is accessible and responsive to all people with learning disabilities and their carers, particularly with the emergence of Primary Care Groups. 2. To influence national and regional health care policies so that there's increasing coherence in attending to the general and specific health care needs of people with learning disabilities. 3. To promote integrated action and partnerships between people with learning disabilities, their families and carers, health and other relevant services, and to minimise organisational and other barriers to effective health care for people with learning disabilities. 4. To find ways to facilitate the active involvement of people with learning disabilities in their own health care. 5. To identify and disseminate effective and valued practice examples through national events, publications and action learning opportunities. 6. To create and support processes that help to bring together other people and agencies concerned with advancing the best possible health for people with learning disabilities, and maximize opportunities for collaboration, joint working, shared learning and action. The Way Forward:The Best of Health wishes to work with up to eight organisations (or alliances of organisations) as Development Partners in order to take forward the aims and objectives of this theme. Through a strategic relationship with the NDT, Development Partners will be able to plan work to reflect the needs and priorities of their locality or interest, and to benefit from being linked into a national network of initiatives and policy influencing profile with a fixed budget commitment. (See the brochure for full details.) If you are determined to develop good local health services, committed to accessible and integrated community and secondary health care, through primary health care groups and related services then contact Simon Whitehead or Joan Maughan at NDT for further discussions and return the enclosed questionnaire. [Primary Care Press Release - February 2000] Last updated : 2 August 2001
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