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.