Issues emerging from the London Learning Disability Plan

This article gives an overview of the draft of the London Learning Disability Plan developed by the Department of Health, Social Services Inspectorate and the National Health Service Executive. The London Plan is founded on a social model of disability in which there is not only a strong focus on health and social care, but also an integration with housing, education, employment, leisure and other relevant organizations. It advocates integrated commissioning and delivery of specialist learning disability services that will require both health services and nurses to change existing structures and interventions. New forms of workforce development will emerge and clarification will be required about the future role of learning disability nurses within London. Information specific to the Plan is gathered from the Department of Health's learning disabilities Web site. The Plan is laid out in four booklets, one of which (Booklet 2: 'Services to Improve People's Lives') was not available at the time of writing. The article thus contains information and proposals that may be altered by subsequent publication.