South East Coast Ambulance Service launch learning disability alert cards

Cards for people with learning disabilities which explain the holder’s condition and how they can be helped have been devised by ambulance chiefs at South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

SECAmb is launching the series of alert cards after identifying that people with learning disabilities engaging with their services are more likely to experience “significant health inequalities”.

The cards, which were launched in NHS Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Week [May 12-16] will provide information about individuals’ condition and how they might be helped.

SECAmb Inclusion Manager Angela Rayner said: “There’s clear evidence that people with learning difficulties are more likely to experience significant health inequalities. The alert cards are hopefully going to prove extremely useful to a large number of people across our region and to the people, including our staff, who may have to help them.

“We’re extremely grateful for the support provided by everyone at the Aldingbourne Trust to ensure the cards meet the requirements of people with a wide range learning disabilities so they can communicate more effectively with anyone who is trying to assist them.”

Further reading: A helping hand – supporting learning disability patients throughout their hospital journey

A series of cards can be displayed in a clear plastic wallet and can be shown if the holder needs:
 Help from the ambulance service or other health care providers
 Help from other emergency services
 Support from their contacts
 Help in difficult or stressful situations
 Help on public transport
 To explain about their disability
 To alert others of their needs to communicate more effectively

The wallet and card toolkit is being made available to organisations and groups who work with and support people with learning disabilities free of charge. This way appropriate support can be provided to individuals in completing the cards.

The project was suggested and designed in partnership with people who have learning disabilities.

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