Learning disability nurses ease the anxiety around hospital visits
If you have additional needs, for example a learning disability, the experience often brings added worries and concerns, such as how best to communicate, finding your way around and knowing how to get the things you need.
That’s where the learning disability nurses come in - a fabulous team, based at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich and Lewisham Hospital, who work together across the sites, specifically to look after patients with learning disability needs.
Hear Jenny Sentongo, learning disability clinical nurse specialist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital to talk to her and colleagues, Louise Stockdale, a complex physical health nurse in the learning disability team in Greenwich and Emma O'Donnell, who is the learning disability clinical nurse specialist, at University Hospital Lewisham. Emma works at Lewisham Hospital, but works very closely with Jenny and the team to make sure people with learning disabilities are supported when they come to either of the two hospitals.
We are definitely working really hard to provide the best care possible across both of the hospital trusts, so that whichever hospital people come to, they have the same service and level of consistent, quality care.
The team of nurses also provide training for other staff and support a team of learning disability champions, to offer a robust support network for patients.
