Annual health checks help detect issues early for people with learning disabilities

Adults with a learning disability can attend an annual appointment at their GP practice to review and chat about their health and wellbeing.

These yearly checks are carried out by a healthcare professional, usually a GP or a nurse, for people aged 18 and over who are on their GP practice’s learning disability register.

During the appointment, patients can talk about how they have been feeling and raise any concerns or questions they may have.

Pictured: Castle Surgery practice nurse Maria Beesley, operations manager Nerys Busher, and practice manager Nicola Edwards.

The overall aim is to spot any health issues early and provide information and advice on how to stay healthy.

Clare James, Swansea Bay’s Deputy Head of Nursing for Primary Care, said: “Since April 2025, annual health checks have been available for all adults aged 18 and over who are registered with a GP practice.

“Each practice across Swansea Bay has a learning disability register and, if you are on the register, you will be invited for an annual health check.

“Some people are not aware they are entitled to this annual appointment. We would encourage them or an advocate to contact their GP practice and ask to be added to the register if they are not already on it.

“Even if the patient feels well, it is very important to attend as these checks provide advice and support to help them stay healthy and detect any early changes in health.”

During the annual check, the healthcare professional will ask questions about lifestyle, including smoking, alcohol use and general wellbeing.

They will check blood pressure and weight, listen to the patient’s chest, examine their eyes and ears, and check their abdomen, among other routine assessments.

“Annual health checks can help to identify any potential issues as early as possible,” Clare added.

“By spotting problems sooner, they can be addressed and treated more quickly.

“Unfortunately, people with a learning disability can often experience poorer health and are at higher risk of a range of conditions.

“Patients are welcome to bring a family member or support worker if they prefer, but they can also ask to speak to the healthcare professional privately.

“The practice should support with any reasonable adjustments to reduce stress, avoid missed appointments and promote equitable access.”

Castle Surgery in Neath is just one GP practice in Swansea Bay that has a good uptake of annual health checks.

Nicola Edwards, practice manager, said: “We use an annual recall system for our patients on our current learning disability register.

“If the patient doesn’t make an appointment to the initial first recall letter, they will receive a further two letters within that year to remind them.

“We also carry out home visits to assisted living settings, where we complete the health checks for our patients. This approach has consistently worked well for both the practice and our patients living in these environments.

“It also supports carers working in assisted living homes by making it easier for them to engage with and attend the practice.

“We have also engaged with the health board’s learning disability team, who identified how many of our patients were not attending their health checks.

“They provided us with easy-read invitations for patients, which supported our engagement with them.”

Practice nurses and an advanced paramedic practitioner carry out the annual reviews at Castle Surgery, but this will vary at each GP practice.

“Our nurses have worked here for many years, and continuity and familiarity helps patients feel more comfortable during their health checks,” Nicola added.

“We work closely with carers and families to support patients through their health checks. For those who find busy periods challenging, we offer appointments at quieter times, such as the end of the day, whenever possible.

“We see these appointments as more than an annual review, allowing time to speak with patients and their carers to identify any additional concerns.

“If there are any additional concerns, we ask the on-call GP to assist if needed, or we can also make them a separate appointment with a GP.”