Local Offer: Learning Disability Friendly Practice

Our Learning Disability Lead is Dr Mathumai Kanthasamy.

Waltham Forest Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)

  • Local council support services for children and young people:
  • Early years support
  • Education and SEND support
  • Education, Health and care plans
  • Social, emotional and mental wellbeing
  • Health services
  • Preparing for adulthood
  • Finance - advice, budgeting, funds and grants
  • Transport and getting around
  • Social care and short breaks
  • Information and advice
  • Things to do
  • Carers support
  • Information on conditions and support
  • Lester House, Respite Centre  

For more information you can click here to visit the Waltham Forest website

Reasonable Adjustments

As part of your care the practice will record reasonable adjustments specific to you. The practice will make these changes when you contact us so you can acess something just as easily as everybody else. 

Some examples of what a 'reasonable adjustment' might be are:

  • Making sure there is wheelchair access, having a 'quiet' waiting room
  • providing easy read appointment letters
  • giving priority appointments or first appointments
  • longer appointments if more time is needed
  • home-visits if attending the surgery causes distress 

The benefits of being on the Learning Disability Register include:

  • having an annual health check, if 14 or over
  • parent, carers and siblings being identified as carers
  • a better understanding of a person’s needs before they attend health care settings
  • improved transition to adult services, as your GP will be aware of your young person’s needs and can be involved in any planning.

If you are poorly or need help

If you can, contact us via Klinik our online consultation form OR call us. 

You can call us on 0208 176 9110 and press option 2, tell the receptionist what is wrong and they will tell the doctor. 

Make a note for yourself to take with you to the appointment.

Let the receptionist know when you arrive at the surgery.

The doctor will tell you what to do

If the practice is closed - call 111

You can call 999 in an emergency

Easy read 'What to do if you are poorly'

Easy read 'What to expect from your appointment'

GP annual health checks for patients with learning disabilities. 

The Annual Health Check is an ideal opportunity for you and your GP to discuss your overall health and create a plan that will help you, carers and other healthcare porfessionals involved in your care help you when you need it. 

Easy ready 'Annual Health Check'

Benefits of having an annual health check:

  • Can link to the duty on local authorities to make sure all Education, Health and Care Plan reviews from Year 9 onwards include a focus on preparing for adulthood, this is the health outcome.
  • Additional information can be added to the Summary Care Record which can ‘flag’ your child or young person’s needs or reasonable adjustments so that all healthcare professionals that care for them are aware.
  • The child or young person can build their confidence of going to the surgery, and their familiarity with practice staff.
  • Identification of any previously undetected health needs or health conditions.
  • Health needs are acted upon, for example, referrals to other health care practitioners are made.
  • GP’s and practice staff can get to know the person better when they are not unwell

What to expect at your annual health check?

  • do a physical check-up, including weight, heart rate and blood pressure
  • they may ask you to pee in a small pot for them to check your urine, or ask you to have a blood test
  • talk to you about staying well and if you need any help with this
  • ask about things that can be more common if you have a learning disability, such as epilepsy, constipation or problems with swallowing (dysphagia), or with your eyesight or hearing
  • talk to you about your medicines to make sure you are being given the right medicines when you need them
  • check to see if your vaccinations are up to date
  • check how you are feeling if you have a health problem such as asthma or diabetes
  • check to see if you have any other health appointments
  • ask if your family or carers are getting the support they need
  • help make sure that things go well when children move to adult services at the age of 18