Health check gave Susan her smile back

An annual health check is important for everyone over 40, but it’s especially important for people with learning disabilities as they often have poorer health. Susan tells us how her health check helped turn her life around.

Susan Hewish’s beaming smile says it all - she has never been happier – and it’s all thanks to a team of specialist learning disability nurses and an annual health check.

Susan’s GP referred her to the learning disability team at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT), as she needed support. An initial assessment, at her home, uncovered several issues, from Susan being lonely and down, to feeling anxious about going to healthcare appointments.

With support from the KCHFT learning disability nurses over many months, Susan’s confidence grew. She was encouraged to go to an annual health check and given easy read information to let her know what this would involve.

A specialist nurse was with Susan every step of the way, a health action plan was set up and she hasn’t looked back since.

One thing the team helped her with, was overcoming her fear of the dentist. Susan hadn’t been for 20 years, but with support from the team, had 17 teeth removed and new dentures fitted.

The nurses also helped her switch to a female GP, so she would feel more comfortable and worked with partner organisations to help her move from a flat, into supported accommodation, where she now has company and is far happier.

Susan said: “The nurses support me to go to healthcare appointments, they come along with me and help me understand what is said. This helped me tell the doctor all the problems I had, like I was feeling very low and lonely. I had trouble understanding my diabetes and epilepsy. Also, I hadn’t been to the dentist in 20 years because I was scared. I was in pain.

“I had an easy read health action plan. From this all the good things happened. The nurses helped me not be anxious and I have had all my teeth sorted. I have dentist check-ups now and I have a new smile. My new teeth make me feel I’ve had a boost. Now I really am confident.

“Before, I never went out when I didn’t have any teeth, it was horrible. I felt like I didn’t have anyone, but the nurses supported me and now I open up to them if I have a problem.

“The nurses are fantastic – they have changed my life.  I am not lonely anymore because I have moved and I am now with other people.

“I made all of those who support me a thank you card for what they’ve done and they all loved it. Most of them cried!”

Susan Hewish

Lisa Harrington, a specialist community matron in the Learning Disability Team, was one of those who supported Susan. She said: “The help and support Susan has received and the annual health check, have turned her life around.

“The annual health check uncovered various issues. Susan had not been to the dentist for a very long time, she wouldn’t smile, she was embarrassed and had low self-esteem. She was also anxious, she had a low mood and felt lonely.

“The annual health check looks at things from a social angle too and Susan told us she didn’t want to live on her own any more, but she did want to keep her independence. We helped Susan to link in with social services and she has now moved into a supported living environment, where she has company and is much happier.

“We’re proud that Susan has done so well.”

Teaming up to save lives

KCHFT is working with GPs, primary care networks and clinical commissioning groups to improve the uptake of annual health checks for adults with learning disabilities.

Lisa said: ““Having access to annual health checks is essential for these individuals, helping them to live well, as well as contributing to a reduction in hospital admissions and people dying prematurely.”

Lisa and colleagues Chris Hunter and Becky Hankin, ran a quality improvement project to see how things could be done better. The project was trialled with six GPs across Kent and resulted in the project team recommending that GPs and specialist learning disability nurses work even closer together to give greater support.

Anyone with a learning disability aged 14 and above can access an annual health check via their GP.