In 2012 a national working party consisting of experts in the care of patients with learning disabilities and the management of swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) was convened to develop guidelines to assist with the identification of at-risk patients. The aim was to improve the diagnosis and management of dysphagia in this patient population. The guidelines were also designed to improve the protection of such patients by ensuring that they are treated in a fair and equitable manner. This article provides an overview of the guidelines (Wright et al, 2012) for the community nurse.
David Wright, Professor of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Tom Howseman, GP and Clinical Director of LD Commissioning, Nene and Corby CCG, St Luke’s Primary Care Centre, Northampton
Linda Smith & Paul Smith review continence training approaches used in the treatment of people with learning disabilities.
Katrin Lehmann aims to address common societal views that deny women with disabilities the right to sexuality and challenges some of these views and beliefs, focusing on the promotion of positive sexuality.
Katrin Lehmann RN (Child Branch), BSc (Hons), PG Cert Specialist Practice (Child & Adolescent Mental Health), Cert Counselling, Cert Health Studies, is an Adolescent Team Nurse within the Multidisciplinary Adolescent Team and Bank Nurse (Family Planning), North & West Belfast HSS Trust, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Thanks go to Jill Stewart Moore, Lecturer, Queens University and colleagues in the Multidisciplinary Adolescent Team for their encouragement and support in the process of publishing this article.
Article accepted for publication: July 2005
