The Learning Disability (LD) Friendly GP Practice Quality Mark has been refreshed!

GP practices are critically important in supporting people with a Learning Disability (LD) to manage their health and obtain access to the health care they need.

Those with a Learning Disability may have poorer physical and mental health than the general population which means providing excellent health care includes identifying undetected and underlying health conditions, providing personalised care, and working collaboratively with families, carers, and other professionals. 

The aim of the Lincolnshire Learning Disability Friendly GP Practice Quality Mark is to improve health outcomes for people with a learning disability living in Lincolnshire by supporting GP practices to improve care quality and patient experience.

Everyone is entitled to good health care, and it is vital that LD patients have equal access also.  The Quality Mark aims to recognise good practice in providing accessible health care to people with a learning disability and encourage continuous quality improvement.

The Quality Mark process and forms have been refreshed in April 2025.

Awarding the Quality Mark follows a process:

• Practices apply and need to provide the required evidence that they meet the standard;
  
• A LD panel, including experts-by-experience, reviews applications, a practice representative is invited to attend the panel via Microsoft Teams;
  
• Applicants will be notified of their outcome and successful applications will go through the new awarding system of Bronze, Silver, Gold.
  
• A register of LD Friendly Practices will be maintained by NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Practices who sign up:

• Are encouraged to improve their quality of care and patient experience, leading to better outcomes for all LD patients

• Ensure their staff are up to date with having LD champions and training sessions to support their patients
  
• Offer reassurance and confidence that all LD patients are offered an annual health check, access to other programmes (e.g. screening programmes) with reasonable adjustments
  
• Ensure that reasonable adjustments are monitored and reviewed, providing a person-centred approach
  
• Actively promote a better NHS, helping to tackle health inequalities and provide accessible healthcare for those that need it.