Learning Disability Liaison Nurses Leaflet

Who are we?

Learning Disability Liaison Nurses work across Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in both Bedford Hospital and Luton and Dunstable Hospital.

They are part of the Health Equalities Team who work across the hospital and community.

What do we do?

We support adults (over the age of 18) with a Learning Disability who use hospital services.

This may include:

Advising on reasonable adjustments.
Talking with carers and family members.
Help with any worries you may have about your visit to hospital.
Training hospital staff on supporting people who have a Learning Disability.
Supporting young people who are new to adult services.

How do we do it?

We work together with hospital staff and local authorities, as well as families and carers to help you have safe care and treatment.

We support hospital staff to communicate in the right way with you.

We support hospital staff to better understand your needs.

We support hospital staff with advice and guidance on the Mental Capacity Act and the Equality Act and how they should use this as part of your care.

How you can help us?

If you have not been visited by the team, please let us know if you are admitted. The sooner we know about your appointment or admission, then we can support ward staff to deliver the right care.

If you are a carer, please continue to support until admission has taken place. Our role is supportive and we do not always know the person as well as you do. Staying with them will make them feel reassured.

You are able to discuss the care of the person you are supporting with the ward staff directly. You will often be better placed to do this if you are supporting them on the ward. This will then not cause delays in care or treatment.

How to contact us

We accept self referrals or those from carers and professionals.

We are based at the hospital sites, working Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

We do not work weekends or bank holidays. However you can still access support by talking directly to ward staff or key professionals involved within the delivery of care.

Bedford Hospital: 07990850866

Luton and Dunstable Hospital: 07899065737 and 07855269102

Autism

We can support you if you have a Learning Disability and Autism. If you are an Autistic person who does not have a Learning Disability please see these useful websites for resources and autism passport templates

https://www.autismbedfordshire.net

https://www.autism.org.uk

https://www.autismspeaks.org