Our Learning Disability Teams have been beavering away over the past few weeks, planning and preparing for a host of events taking place during Learning Disabilities Week from 18 – 22 June.

The theme this year is ‘Treat me well’ and is aimed to promote and educate health professionals to transform how the NHS treats people with a learning disability in hospital.

This year’s theme is something that resonates with Caritas Care. Our REACT team have worked tirelessly with health professionals on this very subject and over the past 10 years and have trained:

• Over 3,000 members of staff with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals
• Over 500 GP’s, practice nurses and practices with our Des training.
• Over 400 Lancaster University third year medical students.

We will be kicking off the week at the Preston Local Forum event on Monday 18 June to be held at Preston Town Hall from 10am to 3pm. Here you can find out about what events and activities will be available throughout the week and help to raise awareness around health for people with a learning disability.

On Thursday 21 June, our Face2face self advocacy group will take place; this speak up group for anyone with a learning disability in the Preston area is aimed at people with a learning disability who want to feel more confident in speaking for themselves. It is one of the eight speak up meetings held by our team each month across Lancashire.

The meetings inform people of what’s happening locally and discuss things that are important to people on topics such as transport and health. The group also encourages social engagement, meeting new people and allows people to have the confidence to speak out and most importantly to be listened too.

Come along to see us at Plungington community centre from 2pm to 4pm. You will get a chance to meet our team of Advocates and also join us in celebrating David Wood’s 15 years of employment with Caritas Care’s REACT Service. We are delighted to have Lancashire Healthwatch here too who will be available to answer your questions and offer advice on Health matters.

We will be ending the week at the Annual Health promotion event at Chorley Hospital. Organised by Lancashire Teaching Hospital, Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, Learning Disability Community Nurse Teams and Caritas Care’s REACT service, the event will take place in the hospital’s Education Centre.

The day will provide expert and professional advice to encourage people with a learning disability to learn more about looking after their own health and how they can take control of it. It will highlight and raise awareness on the health inequities people with learning disabilities may face.

Come along any time between 9.30am to 3pm and have a chat to our professionals and join in the fun and entertainment of the day. You will enjoy a special Yoga session from our Vision in People (VIP) team… you can even give it whirl too and join in!

We look forward to celebrating Learning Disabilities Week and the work we do at Caritas Care throughout the week.   Click here to find out more about our Learning Disability Services or contact us on 01772 732313.