Health support for people with a learning disability

Specialist health services

We work in partnership with local health services to help keep you well. Many of them offer specific services for people with learning disabilities.

Get support from your doctor

You should speak to your GP first about most health questions or worries. They can tell you what to do next or refer you to the right service.

Learning disability register

The learning disability register helps your doctor know that you need extra help.

Joining the register means you get:

• invited to annual health checks
• free flu and coronavirus jabs

You can contact your doctor to check if you are already on the register, or to ask to join it. Find out more about the learning disability register on Mencap.

Ask for reasonable adjustments

Reasonable adjustments are small changes to help you be treated equally. You can ask the staff to treat you differently or to make sure you have the things you need at your appointment. 

Find out more about asking for reasonable adjustments on Mencap.

Your Healthcare

Your Healthcare works with people who:

• have a learning disability and needs specialist support
• have a GP in Kingston
• are over 18

They can help you with lots of different health topics, including:

• speech and language therapy
• food and nutrition
• mobility and moving around safely
• mental health and wellbeing
• being able to do daily tasks
• behavioural support

Find out more about Your Healthcare and how to contact them.

Dentists

King’s College offers specialist community dental services for people across South London. You will need to be referred to them by another dentist, doctor, or another healthcare professional. If your referral is accepted you can be seen by them in Teddington or Surbiton.

Find out more about King’s College community special care services.

Help to pay for dentists

You are eligible for free NHS dental treatment if you get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Find out more about free NHS dentistry.

Eye health and opticians

Some opticians have services to help support you with your eye health, including:

• Specsavers offer free home eye tests if you’re eligible
• Horrocks and Boyd have specialist equipment for people with communication problems

Ask your GP if you want more help with your eye tests.

Help to pay for eye tests or glasses

If you get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), you are eligible for:

• free NHS eye tests
• vouchers to help towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses

Find out more about help to pay for eye tests or glasses on the NHS website.

Sexual health

You can get help with your sexual health at the CONNECT service at the Wolverton Centre in Kingston Hospital. Find out more about sexual health care at the Wolverton Centre.

Hospital passport

A hospital passport tells medical staff things about you. It can help you get the care you need more easily if you are in the hospital.

Hospital passports tell staff about:

• your health
• your learning disability
• how you like to communicate
• how to make things easier for you

Find out more about hospital passports and how to get one on Mencap.

Medical leaflets in Easy Read

Our Involve team has worked with Kingston Hospital to create Easy Read leaflets for some medical services. Find a list of Easy Read leaflets on Kingston Hospital’s website.

Talk about your experience of health services

Help us improve health services for everyone with a learning disability by joining the Healthwatch group.