Article 25 of the United Nations Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities

Article 25 of the United Nations Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities

Article 25 of the United Nations Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities mandates healthcare professionals in all areas within the field to provide patient with disabilities with unbiased healthcare and with the highest standards (Guide, 2010). Similarly, the Pharmaceutical Care of People with Learning Disability report, published by NHS (2014), requires pharmacists in every healthcare setting to ensure a positive experience and high-quality care by people with learning disabilities and their families. Based on the guidelines by NHS (2014), pharmacy staff, as well as professions in different fields of nursing, must recognize the specific basic and health needs and service preferences of patients with intellectual disabilities, their families and their caregivers. However, the evidence provided in the literature review in this section shows that people with disabilities are often invisible in healthcare systems.

The main issues hindering the access of quality healthcare by people with learning disabilities, in addition to the factors mentioned in the reviewed articles, relate to a widespread lack of understanding by carers, family members and hospital staff of the vulnerabilities of patients with learning disabilities (O’Dwyer, Mestrovic & Henman, 2015). Guidelines on Caring for People with a Learning Disability in General Hospital Settings are also available in different parts of the UK and are relevant in enhancing the patients’ experiences in hospitals and nursing homes (GAIN, 2010). To address the concerns in the guidelines, healthcare professionals in different settings can ensure the use of improved individual care planning, effective use of available resources, and most importantly, enhanced communication between the patients with disability and the health professionals (GAIN, 2010). Based on the review, the discourse between the provisions for the care of disabled people and the actual treatment of the patients by health professionals and carers proves the need for adjustment in the communication system for guaranteed access to quality healthcare services. This study identifies the need for an improved understanding of non-verbal communication by carers and general health professionals to ensure higher accessibility to quality healthcare by people with learning disabilities.