Estimated prevalence of people with learning disabilities: template for general practice.

backgroundIn 2001, a white paper set out a commitment to ensure that people with a learning disability receive equal access to health services, with an expectation that general practices would have identified all people with a learning disability registered with the practice by June 2004.

aimTo outline the development of a template to create practice-based registers of people with learning disabilities in general practice. DESIGN OF STUDY: The study was prospective, employing a template to identify patients in general practice with a learning disability. The study used capture-recapture methodology to estimate the prevalence of learning disability in the population.

settingGeneral practices in Leeds.

methodA template was developed that uses Read code searches of practices' electronic medical records, along with practice knowledge to identify patients who have a learning disability.

resultsThe tool was piloted in 30 general practices in Leeds and validated against a city-wide database of people with learning disability. There was a wide variation between the practices in terms of how many people were identified, with the average being 0.4% of the practice population. Combined with validation from the city-wide database, this increased to 0.7%.

conclusionThe template provides a valuable tool for general practices to begin developing a practice-based register of patients with a learning disability. This is particularly timely in view of the revised General Medical Services contract Quality and Outcomes Framework indicator, stimulating practices to produce a register of patients with learning disability. Use of a common definition for learning disability is needed to improve consistency in identification across practices.