Community Learning Disability Team - NHS Lothian

The Learning Disability Service provides specialist health care, advice and treatment to both children and adults with a learning disability through locally based multidisciplinary teams.

It supports other NHS services and care agencies to provide mainstream services to people with a learning disability to enable health improvement.

 

What is a Learning Disability also known as Intellectual Disability?

  • A learning disability is a significant lifelong condition including:
  • Reduced ability to understand new or complex information or to learn new skills
  • Reduced ability to cope independently
  • A condition which started before adulthood (before the age of 18) with a lasting effect on the individual's development
  • An IQ below 70

Vijay, James, Leroy, Amy and Emily talk about what having a learning disability means to them. 

This video was produced by Mencap.

 

Who is in the Team?

All team members are health professionals, they offer:

  • Assessment
  • Treatment and interventions
  • Training
  • Advice and support

to adults with a learning disability and their family/carers

 

Community Nurses - offer support to both children and adults around physical, mental, personal and emotional health care needs. 

Clinical Psychologists - offer support around learning, thinking, emotions and behaviour, including forensic issues, dementia, sexual abuse and parenting

Psychiatrists - offer support around mental health, epilepsy and behaviour.  All referrals to the Psychiatrists must be made via the individuals' GP

Occupational Therapists - offer support around personal, domestic, leisure, work and community living skills also around environmental and equipment needs

Physiotherapists - offer support about positioning, walking, wheelchairs and other specialist seating and orthotics

Speech and Language Therapists - offer support around communication and eating, drinking and swallowing

Dieticians - offer support about nutrition and diet, including gastrostomy feeding

 

Within the team we liaise with other specialities in the Learning Disabilities Service to suit the needs of the individual if required.

 

For Further information or to make a referral, please contact:

Team Secretary

West Lothian Community Learning Disability Team

Arrochar House

Almondvale  Boulevard

Livingston

EH54 6QJ

 

Telephone:  01506 284070 

 

For further information and resources please visit NHS Lothian - Learning Disabilities Services (opens new window)

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