Learning Disabilities COVID-19

Advice and guidance on COVID-19 for our patients with learning disabilities.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) March 2020

COVID-19 is a new illness. Lots of people call it Coronavirus.It can affect your lungs and your airways.
Most people who get Coronavirus will not be very ill.Some older people or people who already have health problems may become more ill. You may feel worried about Coronavirus. This is normal. Talk about how you feel with people you can trust.
We have a plan to slow down how fast Coronavirus spreads. There are things everyone can do to help stop them and other people getting Coronavirus.
1)    Keep your hands clean.Wash your hands lots of times during the day:use soap and wateruse hand sanitiser (gel) if there is no soap and water when you are out make sure you wash your hands when:·        you come home·        you visit other places·        before you touch foodDo not touch your eyes, nose or mouth
Always cough and sneeze into a tissue. Then throw the tissue away and wash your hands.
2)    Be ready to stay at homeStay at home and don’t meet up with other people for 7 days if you have Coronavirus symptoms.These are:·        a new cough, and you keep coughing or·        a high temperatureAfter 7 days, if you feel better, you can start your usual routine again.
Stay at home and don’t meet up with other people for 14 days if you share your home with someone who has symptoms of Coronavirus.
3) Make a plan Think about what you will do if you are asked to stay at home. If you have support from family or paid carers you should make a plan with them.
 Only use health services when it is important to do so.If you:are staying at home and start to feel much more ill orhave stayed at home for 7 days and still have symptoms of CoronavirusThen:get advice from NHS 111 onlineif you need to speak to someone call 111you should not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital as you could pass Coronavirus to othersOnly dial 999 or go to Accident and Emergency if there is an emergency.
Only get information about Coronavirus from places you can trustThese places are:The UK coronavirus (COVID-19) pageThe NHS coronavirus (COVID-19) pageNHS 111 onlineIf you are planning to travel abroad check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice pageFollow Public HealthEngland or The Department of Health and Social Care on Twitter for regular updates

Adults with Down’s Syndrome

There’s a significantly higher risk from Covid in adults with Down’s.  Risk increases with age and other underlying health conditions and increases further if the person lives in residential care.

Patients and their families/carers can find accessible resources and other types of information and support by accessing the Down’s syndrome Association website and helpline – 0333 12 12 300 – for further accessible
resources and other types of information and support.