'There but for the grace'...? Developing multi-disciplinary training following a local child death inquiry

This article describes the process of planning and running a training course for multi-disciplinary professionals in the wake of a local child death inquiry. The factors which influenced the content and management of the training experience are discussed, in particular the trainers' determination to encourage course participants to develop practice foresight rather than defensive reactions to what had emerged in the inquiry's findings. How the course was received by the practitioners, the work that was accomplished and the impact on the trainers of running a course in such circumstances are then highlighted

Primary Health Care for People with a Learning Disability

The delivery of health care to people with a learning disability living in the community has come under increasing scrutiny. Concerns have been raised over both the current quality of this care and its future organisation. In this article we review the evidence on current practice focusing on epidemiology, health status and policy directives affecting primary health care. Four specific areas for service developments are identified: an individual focus within an epidemiological framework, the evaluation of the effectiveness of current therapies, practice organisation and the awareness of health within social care. It is proposed that an effective model of primary health care is possible, supported by research, training, inter-service collaboration and purchasing guidelines