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Lewisham NHS Trust has launched a new scheme for residents in the borough with learning difficulties.

The ‘Hospital Passport’ scheme provides people with learning disabilities with a personal information document to carry when they receive medical treatment. Each passport will include information about the particular patient’s likes and dislikes, medications and other information to ensure they get appropriate treatment.

The trust has received praise from Mencap and a local community group for its efforts to improve care for people with learning difficulties. It runs a number of initiatives to ensure the 5,400 adults with learning difficulties living in the borough have their individual needs taken into account and that there is effective communication between staff and patients.

Beverley Dawkins of Mencap said: “The initiatives that the trust has introduced such as the Hospital Passport will help to ensure that people with a learning disability, who are more likely to have poor health, get the healthcare they need and will ultimately help to save their lives.”

The Lewisham Community Team for Adults with Learning Disabilties has also praised the trust’s work. Lead Nurse Jackie Downing said: “Lewisham Healthcare’s Hospital Passport project will make a considerable difference to the experience of people with learning disabilities in hospital. We look forward to working closely with the trust to improve all aspects of this service to local people.”