LEARNING disability care at Musgrove Park hospital has been handed a major boost thanks to a huge investment by NHS Somerset.

It means Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s acute learning disabilities team is set to more than double in size, with recruitment under way for additional clinicians and support workers.

Louise Atkinson, who has recently been appointed as the service’s operational lead nurse, explained: “Late last summer we merged our learning disability liaison teams at Musgrove Park and Yeovil hospitals to become one single service for Somerset’s main hospitals.

“At the same time, we also put in place a new team that specifically deals with capacity assessments for people with learning disabilities, who have been referred for urgent investigations into possible cancers.

“We are in the process of recruiting additional specialist nurses, support workers and administrators at both hospitals…with even more to come.

“Our service is growing from strength-to-strength thanks to this investment, and we’re now able to spend more time than ever with our patients.”

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s acute learning disabilities team provides support for adults who have a learning disability and need care at Musgrove Park or Yeovil hospital – either on the ward, outpatient clinic, maternity, diagnostic scanning, or planned operation.

Louise added: “Part of our role includes advising our colleagues across the hospitals on what reasonable adjustments might be needed for individual patients, to ensure they get an equal service and health outcome as well.

“Although we’re pleased with this investment, there’s still so much more we want to do. I’ve written a strategy to cover what we want to do in the next three years, which is currently being reviewed by our trust board.

“We’ve also developed some new ways of measuring the success of our service, which are based on areas that we know nationally are challenging for people with learning disabilities.”

Sarah Ashe, associate director of safeguarding, mental health, learning disability and autism at NHS Somerset, said: “NHS Somerset is proud to support a significant investment in learning disability care at Musgrove Park and Yeovil hospitals.

“This funding will enable the acute learning disabilities team to expand and enhance the vital support they provide to patients across Somerset.

“We are committed to ensuring equitable, compassionate, and person-centred care for people with learning disabilities, and this investment marks a major step forward in delivering on that promise.”