People with a learning disability encouraged to book annual health checks
Highlighting the crucial role that annual health checks play is the focus for NHS Surrey and Sussex during Learning Disability Week 2026 which runs from today until Sunday 21st June.
This annual week is spearheaded by the charity Mencap and aims to ensure that people with a learning disability are truly seen, heard, valued and included in all areas of society.
We know that people with a learning disability on average have poorer physical and mental health. Having annual health checks helps people to stay well, giving patients an opportunity to talk to a doctor or nurse about their health and wellbeing.
People with a learning disability aged 14 and over, along with their families and carers, are encouraged to contact their GP practice to book an annual health check if they haven’t had one in the past year.
This video from Dr Mandy Claiden, a Sussex GP, and patient, Marc Woolsey, explains more and you can also find out about NHS health checks for people with a learning disability on the NHS website.
Dr Amy Dissanayake, a GP and Deputy Chief Medical Officer for NHS Surrey and Sussex said:
Annual Health Checks for people with a learning disability can improve their quality of life through earlier diagnosis and help reduce unplanned hospital admissions.
They give people dedicated time with their practice to talk about their health, pick up any early signs of concern, and agree the right support before things become more serious.
This is particularly important for those who are 14 to 25 as we know this group don’t make use of these as often. Missing a check at this stage can mean important health needs are not picked up early.
Around 79% of people on the learning disability register in Surrey and Sussex received an annual health check over the past year, exceeding the NHS ambition of 75%. However, many on the learning disability register still miss out on these checks which could make a real difference to their health.
Alongside annual health checks, NHS Surrey and Sussex is also supporting more personalised and proactive approaches, including the rollout of the Medii App. This digital platform supports people with learning disabilities, autism and related needs to better understand and manage their health and wellbeing.
It provides accessible, personalised tools that help people communicate their needs, build confidence, and engage more effectively with services. Early insights suggest that digital approaches like this can support better engagement, reduce the risk of crisis, and help people stay well for longer.