Learning disabilities within mental health services: are we adequately preparing nurses for the future?

Current government policy dictates that where possible patients who have learning disabilities should be cared for within the framework of ordinary generic national health services, with specialist provision kept to a minimum. The mental health care of this client group may be problematic and diagnostic overshadowing can occur because of complex physical, emotional and behavioural issues. If the government agenda is to be followed, this will have an impact on both the pre- and post-registration education of mental health nurses and therefore this must be addressed by the nursing regulatory bodies. There is also an argument for people who have a learning disability in addition to mental health problems to be considered a specialist group within generic mental health services as are other specific groups because of the complexity of their conditions.