EQUAL TREATMENT: Policy Recommendations Report on the access of persons with intellectual disabilities to secondary and tertiary healthcare.

Abstract

This report highlights the policy recommendations developed by the project consortium of Equal Treatment from the analysis of research findings from:

➢ the collection of good practices on access of persons with intellectual disabilities to secondary and tertiary healthcare;

➢ a literature review on the rights and access of persons with intellectual disabilities to secondary and tertiary healthcare and;

➢ a stakeholder needs analysis on access of persons with intellectual disabilities to secondary and tertiary healthcare.

Providing a framework of the related global and European policies, this report develops policy recommendations aiming at improving the access of persons with intellectual disabilities to secondary and tertiary healthcare.

In order to elaborate the development of the policy recommendations, both the project consortium and the project’s Policy Advisory Board were involved by providing their feedback and expertise.

Introduction to the Project Equal Treatment

Equal Treatment is an ERASMUS+ funded project with the aim to improve the access of people with intellectual disabilities to secondary and tertiary health care through inclusive European policies in healthcare services; training of healthcare staff on interacting with patients with intellectual disabilities and; stronger collaboration between healthcare staff and professional supporters.

The project cycle goes from 2022 to 2024. It focuses on one main topic: supported rights and access of people with intellectual disabilities to secondary and tertiary healthcare services.

The expected results of the project are:

1. More effective policies on people with intellectual disabilities inclusion in healthcare services

2. Lower barriers for people with intellectual disabilities to access healthcare services

3. More effective training of healthcare staff to interact with people with intellectual disabilities

4. Stronger and better collaboration between healthcare staff and other professional supporters.

The target groups and project beneficiaries are: Doctors, Nurses, Administrative staff in secondary and tertiary healthcare services (Healthcare Staff); Educators, Psychologists, Social workers, etc. supporting people with intellectual disabilities (Professional Supporters).

Aims of the report on policy recommendations

The Policy Recommendations developed from the research findings during the first phase of the Equal Treatment Project are formulated to improve the rights and access to secondary and tertiary health care services across Europe for people with intellectual disabilities. These policy recommendations are addressed to policy makers, healthcare managers and professionals working in this field and aiming at improving healthcare services delivered to people with an intellectual disability.

The recommendations will assist the stakeholders in furthering the goals of an accessible health system as it is described in Article 25 of UNCRPD. These recommendations function as suggestions to address and attend certain issues identified throughout the implementation of the project.

Furthermore, the recommendations from this report will support the Equal Treatment Project consortium in the development of “Online self-learning e-modules for healthcare staff” across Lithuania, Finland, Greece and Spain. This training will then be shared amongst the networks of the project partners and disseminated at European level. The expected impact is that all good practices will be adapted to each participant country in order to improve the access to and the rights of people with intellectual disability in secondary and tertiary healthcare.

Read the full Report on Policy Recommendations here.