Annual health check

This page includes:

• Information for people with a learning disability
• Information for GPs
• Contact information for the Learning Disability Strategic Health Facilitation team.

Information for people with a learning disability

I am a person with a learning disability or a carer for a person with a learning disability: what do I need to know about annual health checks?

• What is a Health Action Plan
• What is an Annual Health Check
• Top Tips for your Annual Health Check Appointment
• Who can get an Annual Health Check
• What happens at an Annual Health Check
• How to Book your Annual Health Check Appointment

Our Learning Disability Strategic Health Facilitation Team can be contacted for help and advice. Their contact details are below.

Information for GPs

What is the Annual Health Check?

In 2008 the Department of Health announced a two-year Direct Enhanced Service (DES) to deliver Annual Health Checks for people with learning disabilities living in England. It has been proven to be effective in diagnosing and treating in people with learning disabilities conditions that might otherwise have been missed. The health checks scheme has continued each year. 

In Derbyshire some of our practices, in the Dales and Moir Medical Centre, have been trailblazers in delivering health checks prior to the DES. All practices in Derbyshire are now registered to deliver the enhanced service so this information will be relevant to you and your practice colleagues. 

Watch a short video featuring Daniel, one of our Strategic Health Facilitators, encouraging people with learning disabilities to get their health check:

As a GP, what do I need to do?

Please follow the steps set out in this section to complete the annual health checks.

GPs are also asked to complete a QOF Quality Improvement plan for their Learning Disability Health Checks. Please talk to one of our learning disability nurses (listed below) about how you can improve yours. The target is to achieve at least 75%.

Each practice is provided with a named Learning Disabilities Nurse from the LD Strategic Health Facilitation Team. They will provide practices with LD training and verification of the LD health check register, and advice on reasonable adjustments, easy read information, local services and non-attenders.  

More information

• Learning Disabilities Strategic Health Facilitation team leaflet
• Improving identification of people with a learning disability: 
  guidance for general practice - NHS England guide

Daniel says we can't see inside our bodies. He is using the body apron to explain why Health Action Plans are important.