Better preadmission assessment improves learning disability care.

AIM: This qualitative study explores the experience of hospital admission from the perspective of four different stakeholders: people with a learning disability, their family/carers, hospital staff, and community learning disability nurses. It introduces and evaluates a new preadmission assessment, identifies key factors that influence the process of health care, and compares the results of this study with the current evidence base.

METHOD: Process evaluation with multiple stakeholder analysis using semi-structured interviews for data collection. A focus group was used in preparation for the study.

FINDINGS: Stakeholders were generally positive about their experiences, and the preadmission assessment was well received.

CONCLUSION: Preadmission assessment of people with learning disabilities can be helpful to all concerned as it helps the different stakeholders to understand each other and their needs.