Dozens of student nurses at the University of South Wales (USW) have learned how to help patients with learning disabilities access vital healthcare services.
During a special training event at USW, 62 students – who specialise in adult, mental health and child nursing - pledged to become Learning Disability Champions. USW’s School of Care Sciences is the first in Wales to run this training for all fields of nursing, with plans in place to repeat the course on a quarterly basis.
In sessions organised by nursing and midwifery lecturer Stacey Rees, the students were given training by USW specialists and practitioners from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board and Cardiff & Vale University Health Board
They were supported by the Paul Ridd Foundation, which was created to help people with a learning disability, and their families and carers, when accessing secondary health care.
The training included Signalong, details about the ‘Hello My Name Is…’ campaign – which urges health workers to address patients by their names to ensure care is personalised - discussion around the 1000 Lives Care Bundle for people with learning disabilities, and practical tools for students to use when supporting and providing healthcare to people with learning disabilities.