In the UK, an estimated 1,300,000 people have some form of learning disability and between 18-22% also have epilepsy.
For neurological conditions, epilepsy is second to stroke as the leading cause of premature death. Life expectancy for people with both learning disabilities and epilepsy is ten years younger than people with a learning disability who do not have epilepsy.
Not only does managing the risks of epilepsy and providing specialist support make a huge difference to the quality of life for people living with a learning disability and epilepsy, it can also reduce the risk of a premature or avoidable death.
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is the Lead Provider of learning disability services across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton and provides an array of support to help people with learning disabilities lead healthier and happier lives. From psychologists and physiotherapists to psychiatrists and occupational therapists, professionals are on hand to provide specialist, patient-centred support.
To share their expertise and showcase how services can help people with learning disabilities and epilepsy, teams at the Ridge Hill Centre in Brierley Hill held a special event for carers and care providers in the Dudley borough.
Epilepsy nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and psychiatrists were among the professionals sharing advice to care providers and details of how they can help.
The event was all about raising awareness of the relationship between epilepsy and learning disabilities and lowering the impact of the condition, so people with epilepsy get the help and support they need to live well.
A care manager also shared her lived experience of supporting a resident with complex epilepsy and how she worked with Trust services at Ridge Hill to provide the gentleman with the support he needed, while reducing the risk of his epilepsy.
Amanda Hewitt, an epilepsy specialist nurse at BCHFT, said: “Epilepsy disproportionally affects people with learning disabilities which is why it is so important that carers and care providers work with us so we can provide specialist support, putting the person at the centre of all decisions and care.
“With the right support, the risks of epilepsy can be reduced so people can enjoy healthier, happier lives.
“It was wonderful to welcome carers and care providers from across Dudley to Ridge Hill so they can meet the people behind the services, who are passionate about supporting people with learning disabilities.”
The team hold public health events for learning disabilities throughout the year, which will be advertised on the Trust’s social media channels.