Blood Tests for Patients with LD: Desensitisation Materials

Findings from the Confidential Inquiry into the Deaths of People with Learning Disability (CIPOLD) highlight the importance of timely blood tests for people with learning disabilities (LD), including: 

• problems with diagnosis and treatment were the most common reasons for premature deaths: blood tests are often a vital part of diagnostic investigations and can support a treatment pathway 
• blood tests are important for monitoring the efficacy and side-effects of some medication: this includes anti-epileptic drugs, which are more likely to be prescribed to people with learning disabilities 

Some LD patients will experience anxiety when it comes to needles and drawing blood and desensitisation can occupy the time of nursing and practice staff. 

The ILDP (Islington Learning Disability Partnership) is promoting some EasyHealth materials to help practice staff to prepare patients with LD needing blood tests. 

• Having a blood test leaflet
• Having a blood test card
• Blood test (easy read)

Public Health England has published Blood tests for people with learning disabilities: making reasonable adjustments