Primary Care Teams in Amber Valley and Belper join forces to help people with learning disabilities

Primary care teams in Amber Valley and Belper which serve more than 130,000 patients are joining forces to host a one stop well-being shop for people with learning disabilities.

ARCH and Belper Primary Care Networks include 12 GP surgeries. ARCH has already hosted 25 similar health and well-being sessions to bring prevention into the community engaging with more than 1,400 people, carrying out 967 blood pressure checks, over 200 weight management support referrals and 85 specialist smoking referrals.

Now, they will launch the same model for people with learning disabilities, welcoming schools, individuals and community groups to an event on March 5th 1-4pm at Ripley Leisure Centre.

We know 20% of people in Amber Valley have a long-term condition compared to the national average of 17% and that those with a Learning disability are statistically more likely to have poorer health outcomes.

The aim is to provide an inclusive environment for those with a learning disability to get information about their own health and wellbeing and services that they can access to help them. It will also encourage people to attend their annual LD health check and get support on maintaining good physical and mental health.

Jodie Cook, PCN Development Lead for ARCH PCN, said: “We’ve seen how powerful it is when we take healthcare into the places people are familiar and comfortable with. Extending this work to people with learning disabilities is the natural next step. Everyone deserves clear, accessible information and the chance to have meaningful conversations about their health and we’re committed to making that happen.

“Our previous sessions in community halls, warm spaces, schools and many more have been extremely well received, and we’ve discovered dozens of people with a very high blood pressure and some with irregular pulses, who had not attended health screening invites and needed medical review.

“We have strong partnerships in Amber Valley and the relationships that we have with Places Leisure, Amber Valley CVS, Amber Valley Partnership, and Amber Valley Borough Council have been fundamental to their success.

“Prevention is a core priority in the NHS Long Term Plan, and this work shows exactly why – by reaching people early, in familiar places, we can spot problems before they become crises. This is one of the most effective ways we can support people who might not otherwise reach out to their GP surgeries for help.”

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More than 20 stalls will be available, including VCSE organisations specialising in LD and SEND support, alongside inclusive groups such as SENDisco. Live Life Better Derbyshire will offer BP checks, smoking cessation and weight management, and learning disability schools will attend with post 16 students.  Watch the film to see what to expect.

In January alone, more than 100 people attended their wellbeing sessions and a further 20 accessed support at warm spaces.

Debbie Allen, clinical services manager at Belper PCN, said: “Working with ARCH on this event made absolute sense for us. Preventative healthcare isn’t something any single organisation can tackle alone. By joining forces, we were able to offer residents a much broader range of support in one place and show what true neighbourhood working looks like. It’s exactly the kind of partnership that helps people stay well for longer.”

Dr Penny Blackwell, Chair and Clinical Director for Neighbourhood Health and Care for Derby and Derbyshire ICB, added: “This is exactly what the neighbourhood model is about – meeting people where they are, understanding what matters to them, and building support around real lives rather than expecting people to fit into services. It’s crucial that our most underserved communities feel seen, included and able to access care in ways that work for them.”

The model takes health and wellbeing support into the heart of communities, removes barriers, and creates spaces where people feel welcome. Residents can drop in for blood pressure checks, advice for carers, Citizens Advice support, energy advice and informal conversations that often reveal wider issues such as loneliness, debt, or housing concerns.

The general wellbeing sessions are also reaching people who rarely visit their GP. Many attendees are working age adults, particularly men in their 30s to 50s. This population group may not ordinarily attend their GP surgery for other reasons but trust and accept a text message invitation from their practice far more than a poster or social media post.

The work is focused on the most underserved areas such as Ripley, Heanor, Alfreton, Somercotes, Ironville and Riddings where deprivation is higher and engagement with health services is lower.

Anyone attending the LD event will get a free 5-day pass to use at Ripley Leisure Centre, William Gregg Leisure Centre in Heanor, and Alfreton Leisure Centre and you can bring a friend for free too.

For more information on the event contact Jodie: jodie.cook11@nhs.net