Learning disability nursing: videos aim to promote profession

Dance Syndrome's video initiative aims to promote learning disability nursing, but investment is still needed to ensure people stay healthy and safe from harm

The transformative impact of involving a learning disability nurse in our learning-disabled son’s care gifted us with valuable time during what transpired, unknown to us, to be the end of his life.

The learning disability nurse provided understanding and supported other professionals with important evidence to manage his care more effectively.

• RELATED: We saw first-hand how learning disability nurses helped our son

Previous brick walls of communication were easily dismantled by the unique skills provided by the learning disability nurse. We also felt empowered by him to give our son a voice by using simple tools like our mobile phones to record good days and bad days so that our son was more visible as a boy than a patient.

‘Investment in learning disability nursing needs to be prioritised and protected in the interest of maximising public health because it ensures that our clients stay healthy and safe from harm’

Following his death, we both trained as learning disability nurses to improve the numbers in the workforce and gift this valuable service to families and clients.

Dance Syndrome videos include shared stories by learning disability nurses about their roles

Sadly, the RCN says that there are only about 16,500 registered learning disability nurses on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register, compared with 19,000 in 2013. These figures mean that fewer clients will have access to specialist support to protect their health outcomes and maximise their quality of life.

• RELATED: What all nurses have to gain from learning disabilities training

There is need to improve investment in learning disability nursing to make our discipline more attractive, protect the workforce and train the next generation. This will ensure the continuity of this valuable care for our clients and safeguard their right to equal access to healthcare like the rest of the population.

One initiative is hoping to encourage more people to become learning disability nurses. NHS England commissioned the charity Dance Syndrome to produce videos to promote the profession. The videos include personal stories shared by learning disability nurses about their roles and journeys.

• RELATED: ‘Shocking’ hospital learning disability nurse gaps exposed

Investment in learning disability nursing needs to be prioritised and protected in the interest of maximising public health because it ensures that our clients stay healthy and safe from harm.

Lauretta Ofulue is a learning disability nurse and now a health visitor, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, London

Jerry Ofulue is a learning disability nurse, Elysium Healthcare, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire