Learning Disability Week marked in Ealing at NHS event in Hanwell

West London NHS Trust along with Ealing Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities (CTPLD) and the Ealing Short Breaks Service (SBS) has hosted an event as part of Learning Disability Week to showcase the work they do across the community for residents.

Among the guests attending the event at the Green Lane clinic in Hanwell were Tom Cahill, national director for learning disability at NHS England and Rob Hurd, chief executive of North West London Integrated Care Board.

Among those attending were service users, carers and staff who enjoyed the warm weather in the in the garden of Green Lane clinic to talk about their experiences of the service provided. Guests were entertained later in the afternoon by Impact Theatre. Impact is a local performing and creative arts group based in Perivale who aim to promote a positive image of disability of people with learning disabilities.

The learning disability service offereed is a part of Ealing Community Partners – a coalition of health, voluntary and local sector led by West London NHS Trust.

Dr Claire Dillon, director of integrated community health services, Ealing Community Partners said: “It was great to welcome Tom Cahill and Rob Hurd along with the many service users and their families to today’s event. We were really keen to show off the successes of the work that is done here but also give everyone a chance to provide feedback on some of the challenges”.

Dr Dillon added: “Our service has demonstrated some great work in reducing mental hospital admissions through the ‘Ealing model’. The Ealing model involves coordinated working across health and social care providing a family centred focus for people with learning disability. We have a great record in bringing people with learning disability back from long term hospital based care as well as greatly reducing the numbers to be admitted in the first place”.