The Learning Disability Liaison Nurse service helps families by working with children and young people to remove some of the difficulties they face when coming to hospital or to an appointment.
This might include:
- Directly supporting parents and carers
- Working with departments and services to help young patients prepare
- Adapting information and ensuring accessible communication
- Working with NHS Lothian staff to improve understanding.
Who is it for?
Any child or young person with a learning disability who needs additional support to access hospital services at the RHCYP or across NHS Lothian regardless of where they might live.
The Learning Disability Liaison Nurse can help with:
- Co-ordinating care – including in more than one place, or before an admission.
- Support and advice for hospital-based staff to personalise the care a particular patient needs.
- Encouraging effective communication with everyone involved in each patient’s care – whether they are community or hospital-based.
- Support for a relative or a family member with a learning disability, where they are affected by a child’s illness or hospital stay.
- Providing accessible information about treatment.
- Promoting positive experiences and outcomes
Get in touch
Parents and carers of a child or young person with a learning disability, or health professionals wanting to discuss help and support for a young person can contact Blair Thomson, Learning Disability Nurse for the Royal Hospital for Children & Young People on 07580 410 501, or by e-mail at blair.thomson@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
