• To be aware of the challenges of hospital admission for a young person with learning disabilities
• To recognise the importance of comprehensive multidisciplinary planning, communication and teamwork to ensure a successful outcome
• To identify the need for input from dedicated learning disability liaison nurses in acute children’s services
Surgery for spinal deformity is complex and preparation involves a wide multidisciplinary team. For young people with learning disabilities, especially those who have behaviour that challenges, there are further considerations to ensure that their hospital stay is a positive experience and all their additional needs are met. Staff and carers need to be well informed and there must be effective communication. Evaluation of one patient’s journey through pre-assessment, surgery and rehabilitation has identified the need for more input from learning disability liaison nurses in acute children’s services.
Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2020.e1286
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to open peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Honeyman C (2020) Planning surgery for young people with learning disabilities. Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2020.e1286
Published online: 21 September 2020
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