Public urged to support Learning Disability Week

by Gráinne Connolly

West Tyrone, Sinn Féin MLA, Michaela Boyle is encouraging people to get behind and support Learning Disability Week. 

It's following the rededication of the Leonard Chesire garden in Omagh. 

This year the focus of Learning Disability Week is health, particularly with the 'Treat me Well Campaign'. 

Mrs Boyle, who's also the Sinn Féin Disability and Ethnic Minorities spokesperson said: 

"This campaign calls on NHS staff and people with a learning disability to work together to improve healthcare for patients with a learning disability as quite often the treatment people with a learning disability get in hospital is still not good enough. 

“Hospitals can make some simple changes that will make a difference to how someone with a learning disability encounters healthcare in hospital, this includes ensuring communicating better, giving clearer information and taking more time help to save lives.

“I would encourage all hospital workers to become ‘Treat me well Champions’ and to hold events in their local hospital.”