Learning disability nursing and primary healthcare

This article addresses the issues surrounding the role of learning disability nurses and their relationship with primary healthcare colleagues. It highlights opportunities in general practice for the learning disability nurse who has become a key player in shaping services for this client group as services swing towards primary healthcare. The NHS Executive document NHS Priorities and Planning Guidance 1997-98 is explored and the opportunities that this gives the community learning disability nurse are discussed. The article stresses the need for learning disability nurses to obtain quality research-based evidence on effective caring interventions. The importance of clinical audit and outcome measurements from interventions are highlighted. Finally, the importance of good communication and being able to respond to this client group's needs is emphasized.