National priorities
The NHS Improvement Plan sets out the drive to deliver high quality and personalised care. There are four broad national priority areas for the next three financial years in the Health and Social Care Standards and Planning Framework:
Disabled people - people with physical, sensory, learning or psychiatric impairments or other long-term health conditions - make up about 22 per cent of all adults and an even higher proportion of primary care service users. It is not possible to deliver on these priority areas without considering the needs of disabled people.
1. Improving the health of the population
There is a link between poverty and poorer health outcomes, and disabled people make up a disproportionate percentage of those who live on Social Security benefits. By providing high quality healthcare services to disabled people, you can play a crucial role in supporting them in other areas of their lives, like helping them to stay in work and participate in family life and other activities. This in turn helps to support a healthier and fitter population. Guidance for GPs on helping patients to stay in work is available at:
Unequal access to health screening, assessment and treatment is considered to be one of the reasons why some groups of disabled people tend to die younger than non-disabled people. Service providers can help to make progress against targets to reduce health inequalities by providing annual health checks, with screening, for disabled people at high risk, such as those with long-term mental health problems or learning disabilities.
2. Supporting people with long-term conditions
The rate of permanent admissions to residential and nursing care has decreased. However, for disabled people, the numbers of permanent admissions are still increasing. You can help disabled people manage their conditions by offering appropriate primary care services. This will support them in living independently and participating in the social and economic life of their communities.
3. Access to services
Primary care services need to be accessible to all, including those with mobility, sensory or mental impairments. You may need to make special arrangements so that disabled people have fair and prompt access to appropriate care.
4. Patient/user experience
Improving services for disabled people can also bring about improvements in services for all primary care users. Disabled users may have impairments which can make it particularly difficult for them to exercise choice and access appropriate services - and if your services can be responsive to their needs and wishes, then they will also be responsive to people who face less significant obstacles. For example, providing information in ways which are accessible to people with learning disabilities may also help people whose first language is not English; and improving physical access for wheelchair users can help parents with pushchairs.
