The outbreak of Covid-19 has changed the way lots of healthcare services can be accessed; we spoke to Tim Buck, Lead Nurse for Learning Disabilities, about the work his team are doing to support patients with learning disabilities.

Tim is new to our Trust, having joined us in May from Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, and is keen to share how his new team are supporting our patients: “People with learning disabilities may need some more help at the moment. One example is with restarting elective care where we’re asking patients to self-isolate for a period of time before their surgery.

“A patient who has a learning disability may need some more help to understand what they need to do, or we might arrange for some support in the community to be in place. If staff let us know that a patient who is having surgery has a learning disability, we can work with them to make sure the right people are involved so that their surgery can take place as planned.”

The theme of Learning Disability Week this year is friendships and importance of staying in touch during lockdown, which Tim highlights the importance of this for the patients he cares for:

“When a patient with a learning disability is in hospital – whether for an appointment or as an inpatient – it’s important that they are able to have a carer with them. This carer can be paid or unpaid, and our visiting restrictions do allow this so it’s important that staff support carers to be in our hospitals.

“We’re not only here for staff to contact; patients and carers can get in touch with us with any queries or concerns.”

Although new to the Trust, Tim and his team are planning for the future, looking at creating pathways which better support patients with learning disabilities and autism.

For example, Tim explains: “Someone with autism might find it difficult to be in a crowded space or to wait for their appointment. So we would look to make adjustments so they could go straight into their appointment. It’s about making coming to hospital as easy as possible.”

Members of the Learning Disability Team include:

• Tim Buck – Lead Nurse Learning Disabilities
• Abisola Abe – Learning Disabilities Nurse (Adults)
• Mary Jean Hickey – Safeguarding Children’s Advisor, LD and Autism

Get in touch with the team by calling ext 5719 or email