Access All Areas – addressing the health inequalities in Bucks
All the information we hope you would want about support services on offer for those with a learning disability or autism will be under one roof at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Aylesbury on Thursday 13September.
The aim of the Access All Areas event is to help people with learning disabilities and autism access all the areas of support and help available.
This is the result of a partnership between Buckinghamshire County Council, Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group, and many other health and social care professionals and services.
The event is aimed at people aged 14 and over, living in Buckinghamshire who have a learning disability or autism – as well as their parents, carers, friends and support workers.
The National Health Service says that around 1,200 people with a learning disability die each year from preventable illness. The life expectancy of women with a learning disability is 18 years shorter than women in the general population, for men it is 14 years shorter (NHS Digital 2017).
Dr Sian Roberts, Mental Health and Learning Disability Clinical Director, said: “People with a learning disability have worse physical and mental health than people without a learning disability. Our challenge is to close this gap and reduce the numbers of people who die prematurely from preventable causes.
“Access All Areas will showcase the fantastic range of services that is available for people with Learning Disabilities in Buckinghamshire, to support living well and staying well.”
Dr Sian Roberts encourages anyone with a learning disability to have an annual health check to screen for any developing health problems and then be supported to live a healthy lifestyle.
Lin Hazell, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “We would like people with a learning disability or autism to have access to support and opportunities as everyone else in the County. I encourage all to attend. Access All Areas will provide information and support to help those with a learning disability or autism lead healthy and fulfilling lives.”
Entrance to Access All Areas is free, and tickets can be booked online through www.buckscc.gov.uk/access-all-areas