PIONEERING work to support the health needs of people with learning disabilities in the community in Bolton has been praised by leading nurses.

Ongoing research has shown that people with learning disabilities are often left 'unfairly disadvantaged' when it comes to their health requirements.

And studies have shown that this often results in this section of the populating facing more regular hospital trips, which could have been prevented by tackling issues head-on at a primary or secondary care level.

In the borough, Bolton Council and Bolton NHS Foundation Trust run the community learning disability service jointly.

This partnership has been trialling an 'innovation' project, focusing on health screening for people with learning disabilities and autism, aged 14 and over.

Under this work, a scheme was piloted offering a home visit based system at The Hollies in Farnworth, a development which supports 24 such adults, in a main complex and six neighbouring flats, off Worsley Road.

An inspection by the Queen's Nursing Institute (QNI), last week, to review the initiative on the ground, as part of a 'gold standard' check, has given it a clean bill of health.

Senior nurses noted that the scheme had helped contribute to 95 per cent of residents being vaccinated for Covid-19 boosters and flu vaccines. There had also been a number of referrals to GPs for identified conditions.

Later the QNI representatives were able to give positive feedback and recommend some improvements.

Michaela Toms, the hospital trust's divisional nurse director and a Queen’s Nurse, said: “I am really proud of this important piece of work which has helped improve access to health for out learning disability community and I’d like to thanks the QNI for their support and funding to enable this piece of work to happen."