Equal Treatment: closing the gap
The Pollen Shop is providing specialist communication support to the Disability Rights Commission’s (DRC) Formal Investigation into Health Inequalities; Equal Treatment: closing the gap.
The Formal Investigation is one of the most important projects The Pollen Shop has been involved in. The DRC is looking at why learning disabled people and people with mental health problems seem to have disparities in health outcomes. This is another way of saying that learning disabled people and people with mental health problems are far more likely to die younger or have more long term illnesses than everyone else. This appears to be true even when health issues related to a person’s impairments are taken into account.
The investigation is focussing on primary care services. This is the gateway to good health and includes visits to GPs, flu jabs, screening for cancer, “stop smoking” services, family planning, health promotion or out-of-hours services.
The Pollen Shop is working to make sure that everyone who should be involved in Formal Investigation can have their say.
We are particularly interested in making sure that learning disabled people and people with mental health problems tell the investigation about their experiences.
How you can help
If you have a mental health problem or have a learning disability you can contribute to the Formal Investigation completing a short questionnaire.
Questionnaire for people with mental health problems or learning disabilities
Easy Read Questions for Disabled People
The formal investigation is also looking to get the views and experiences of people working in primary care
Questionnaire for primary care practitioners
You can also get copies of the questionnaire in paper and other formats
by calling the DRC helpline 08457 622 633 textphone 08457 622 644
How your organisation can help
If you are part of an organisation that works for learning disabled people, people with mental health problems or in people working in primary health care then please get in touch. It is important that the people you work with or represent are involved in the Formal Investigation. There are many ways that you can take part. These range from simply putting a link on a website, to holding a focus group through to submitting written evidence. We are interested in working with large and small organisations.
If you would like more information about how you can help contact Liz Daone,
Chief Project Manager liz.daone@thepollenshop.co.uk
or phone 1792 360437.
