Appendix 32 – Learning Disabilities Directed Enhanced Services

Barnet letter to GPs - template 

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Edgware Community Hospital, Child Health HQ,

Burnt Oak Broadway, Burnt Oak, Edgware HA8 0AD

Letter to GP Date:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Dear Dr 

Re:  Name, Date of birth, Address, NHS number, MRN Number

I am writing to begin the process of transitioning (patient’s name) care to you when he/she becomes 18. As part of the Learning Disabilities Directed Enhanced Services, it is encouraged that GP led annual health checks are initiated at the age of 14. These will take place alongside my own health checks until the age of 18 to facilitate a smooth transfer of care. 

I have been looking after (patients name) in the community for X number of years. He/she has Down Syndrome and attends (X) school. 

His/her comorbidities include:

Medications include:

There are a number of published guidelines to help you with your annual health checks.

• https://www.rcgp.org.uk/clinical-and research/resources/toolkits/health-check-toolkit.aspx 

• These also include the Royal College of General Practitioners Syndrome Specific Medical Health Check for Down Syndrome (Resources Managing the care of adults with Down Syndrome, Clinical Review, BMJ 2014: http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g5596) 

In addition, the Down Syndrome Association has produced a comprehensive booklet on annual health checks specific to Down Syndrome 

• The Down Syndrome Association Annual Health Checks for Adults with Down Syndrome Checklist (https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/about-downs-syndrome/health-and-wellbeing/#AnnualHealthChecks)

• And a comprehensive overview of health and well-being specific to Down Syndrome can be found here: https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/about-downs-syndrome/health-and-wellbeing/

These are designed to make annual health checks more accessible to adults with DS, provide structure to the consultation and support effective communication. 

Please also consider referring (patients name) to the adult learning disability partnership and consultant Psychiatrist at Barnet House for their future mental health and emotional well-being. 

If you have any questions or feel that I can be of assistance in any way in facilitating (patient’s name) transition to adult services please do get in touch. I’d be happy to help in any way I can.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Christine Jenkins                                       &                  Dr Ella Rachamim

MB BS BSc FRCPCH FRCP DRCOG DCH MRCGP                 MB BS BSc MRCPCH

Consultant Paediatrician, Community Child Health                     Specialist Doctor in Community Paediatrics

Enclose: Last clinic letter
CC: Parents/carers, Young person, School nurse, School SENCO and others relevant to young person eg transitional social worker, CAMHS and so on.