Optimizing the uptake of health checks for people with intellectual disabilities.

The provision of an annual health check for adult persons with an intellectual disability is intended to counter the health inequalities experienced by this population. This study documents the uptake of checks across general practitioner (GP) practices in Northern Ireland over a 3-year period. In all, 84% of GP practices provided health checks covering an estimated 87% of the population with intellectual (learning) disabilities. Overall 64% of people known to practices had received a health check which is significantly higher than comparable percentages of around 46% reported for England. Nevertheless the uptake by patients varied across the five trusts in Northern Ireland but less so than across the English health authorities. These variations were linked to the deployment of health facilitators. However, younger people living with families, or independently, in more socially deprived areas were less likely to have had a health check. Ongoing monitoring is needed to ensure the quality of the checks provided and that health improvement plans are implemented.