Having good health is as important to people with a learning disability as everyone else and for the majority of people with a learning disability most of their health needs are met by their GP or primary care team.

However people with a learning disability may have additional health problems, such as certain medical conditions, sensory impairment and physical disability, difficulty understanding and communicating their health needs, accessing health services and activities that promote healthy lifestyles.

A Community Learning Disability Nurses provide advice, assessment, interventions and monitoring around the complex health needs of people with a learning disability. They offer support to individuals and their carers to enable self-management of health conditions.

They also provide joint working to support mainstream health professionals and education and training for people with learning disability, their carers, mainstream health services, other health and social care professionals and learning disability providers.

A Learning Disability Community Nurse can help you to understand your health appointments. They can talk through your problems with you and give you advice and information about staying healthy. They might also help your families and carers or other health workers that support you in understanding you better which includes your problems and how to stay healthy.

Community learning disability nurses offer assessment, advice and support on many healthcare issues including:

• Your physical health, health action plans and annual health checks with your GP.

• Supporting you to get the best out of your health appointments.

• Your mental health and wellbeing.

• Providing epilepsy support and advice.

• Providing relationship and sexual health support and advice.

• Helping you with problems with your memory.

• Supporting you with health education on things such as diabetes, obesity and your medication.

• Helping you to stay safe.

• Providing you with easy-read health information.

• Offering support with end of life care.