Patients with a learning disability
The Royal Free London is committed to providing a good service to adults with a learning disability and we have signed up to the Mencap 'Getting it Right Charter’.
In order to make sure you have the best experience at our hospitals the following information is here to help you.
Learning disability liaison nurses
We have learning disability liaison nurses at all of our hospitals who can:
- Give advice, support and training to staff about caring for people with a learning disability
- Help with planning admissions and discharge meetings
- Link with specialist learning disability services, families, carers, GPs and other organisations.
If you would like to contact our Acute Liaison Nurses, please email: rf-tr.acuteliaisonnurses@nhs.net, or if you would prefer to telephone:
- Royal Free Hospital: 020 7794 0500 ext 39517 or 07903 225052
- Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals: 07931 290 623 or 020 8216 4474.
Hospital passport
The hospital passport is designed to give hospital staff helpful information that isn't only about illness and health. Download your hospital passport or read more.
Going into hospital
The Royal Free London has produced a film called 'Going into hospital' on behalf of people with a learning disability with the backing of the Department of Health’s Pacesetters Programme.
‘Going into hospital’ gives information to patients with a learning disability about what to expect when you get to hospital, the hospital staff and what you should bring with you to hospital.
Read more and watch the 'Going into hospital' film.
What questions should I ask?
When you are going to the doctor or into hospital, it is often useful to have a list of questions that you would like to ask.
Read this easy-read guide to the right questions to ask.
Preparing to go into hospital
NHS Choices have made a short film to help people who are preparing to go into hospital. A nurse from Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust describes what to pack if you're going into hospital, and what facilities inpatients and their visitors can expect. Watch the film.
Information to take home with you
After your hospital appointment, you can use our 'my hospital visit – information to take home with me' leaflet to take notes about your visit in an easy to understand way, or ask a member of staff to complete this for you.
What should I do if I am not happy with the care I had in hospital?
Please talk to the staff looking after you in hospital or the manager of the ward/department.
If you would like to speak to someone else, you can contact our patient advice and liaison service (PALS) at the hospital where you were seen. More information is available in our leaflets: