We developed a new framework to help NHS trusts in the North West improve the experience, access and outcomes for people with learning disabilities and autistic people who are waiting for elective care.

Background

People with learning disabilities and autistic people often face significant health inequalities. The Reforming Elective Care for Patients plan states NHS providers and systems have a responsibility to reduce health inequalities in their waiting lists.

The NHS North West’s Elective Care Board commissioned the NHS Midlands and Lancashire Improvement Unit to identify what steps are needed to prioritise and/or improve the experience of people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people on waiting lists.

Action

Our approach included:

• Desktop research to explore national and regional priorities, legislation, strategies and examples
• Identifying learning from other regions
• A patient and carer survey, which included an easy read version, shared through North West self-advocacy networks
• 1:1s and meetings with North West stakeholders
• Surveys and workshops with liaison nurses
• Analysis of key findings
• Development of a framework with seven proposed domains including ‘Staying Well While Waiting’ and ‘Communication, Engagement and Co-Production’, with supporting guidance, checklist and tracker.

Impact

The recommended framework aims to:

• Share learning from across the North West region and beyond on prioritising and improving outcomes for patients with learning disabilities and/or autistic people whilst waiting for elective care
• Inspire new ways of working with initiatives for trusts, alongside their system partners to consider
• Provide tangible steps trusts and partners could take to continuously improve the health experience, access and outcomes for people with a learning disability and/or autistic people
• Help to bring colleagues from across trusts, the system and region together to collaborate on improvements for patients with learning disabilities and/or autistic people
• Reduce preventable deaths for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

The framework has been introduced to several NHS North West governance groups including the regional Elective Care and Health Inequalities Group, Learning Disability and Autism Programme Board and the Elective Care Board.

The framework has been positively received and is expected to be adopted within the region. A second phase has been proposed to enable testing and evaluation of its use in trusts and systems, to help reduce health inequalities in waiting lists for patients, carers and organisations across the North West.

Further information

For more information about our Improvement Unit and to find out how we can help, please contact us.