Why you should read this article:

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To understand how physical health deterioration in people with learning disabilities is often missed

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To improve your knowledge of the challenges involved in detecting deterioration in adults with learning disabilities

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To familiarise yourself with the need for a personalised tool that detects physical deterioration

Opportunities to detect physical health deterioration early in people with learning disabilities are often missed, which can lead to suboptimal health outcomes including death. There are several challenges involved in detecting deterioration in adults with learning disabilities. One challenge is that tools such as the National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) may not be suitable for this population. Another challenge is that those people who care for adults with learning disabilities in the community often do not have the skills, training, equipment and confidence to undertake physical observations and escalate any concerns to healthcare professionals in a timely manner. There is therefore a need for a personalised tool to detect and report physical deterioration in adults with learning disabilities in community settings. This article describes a project undertaken by a learning disability nursing student to develop such a tool.