Dr Andrew McCormick, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) launched ‘The accessibility of health information for people with a learning disability’ report and said it is essential that people with a learning disability have access to health information they can understand.
Dr McCormick said: “People with a learning disability face extra challenges in just living from day to day. We must do everything in our power to get them the health information that is important to them. And we must do it in a way that will suit their particular needs. This will allow them to make the proper choices for themselves about their own health and wellbeing.”
Speaking at the launch in the Lagan Valley Island Conference Centre, Lisburn, Dr McCormick added: “Good communication practices do exist within the health service in getting the proper messages across to people with learning disabilities. This report will also provide us with a better picture of their needs and will give us the valuable opportunity to improve the way we get our messages across and to share the good practices.”
Notes to Editors:
- On 1 June 2006 the Equality Commission began a formal investigation under Disability Discrimination legislation to evaluate the accessibility of health information in Northern Ireland for people with a learning disability.
- This included written health information about specific illnesses, health promotion and the various health services available, as well as the information communicated verbally by a range of healthcare professionals. People with a learning disability and carers of people with a learning disability were involved in the compilation of the report. The investigation is now complete and the Commission launches the report which contains its findings and recommendations.
- This has been the first investigation under the Disability Discrimination.
- Over the next year, the Commission will review progress towards implementation of the Report’s recommendations. During that period the Commission will have regular meetings with the Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) to discuss progress. The Commission has indicated that it sees this event as an opportunity to highlight that it and the DHSSPS will work together to ensure that the Report’s recommendations are implemented.
- Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0571, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
