Adult Learning Disabilities - Annual Health Checks Implementation Group: January 2026

Attendees and apologies

• SG Officials

• Representative for NHS Dumfries and Galloway

• Representative for NHS Borders

• Representative for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 

• Representative for NHS Grampian

• Representative for NHS Tayside

• Representative for NHS Lothian

• Representative for NHS Forth Valley

• Representative for NHS Shetland

• Representative for NHS North Highland

• Representative for NHS Highland Argyll and Bute

• Representative for NHS Lothian

• Representative for NHS Lanarkshire

• Representative for NHS Fife

• Representative for NHS NES

Apologies:

• Representative for NHS Lanarkshire 

• Representative for NHS Orkney

Items and actions

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Updates from Scottish Government

The Chair gave the group an update on the work of the short-life working group which has been set up to undertake a formal review of the delivery of annual health checks paperwork.  The Chair advised that EasyRead and Plain English versions of the prequestionnaire section had been created and will be taken to the Annual Health Check Involvement Network for lived experience feedback.

The Chair thanked Health Boards for completing the models of delivery used on the annual health checks template as requested by the  Scottish Learning Disability Lead Nurse Group on behalf of the Scottish Executive Nurse Directors (SEND). 

Health Boards were reminded that SG Officials had commissioned the informal annual health check data collection for quarter 3. The Chair thanked the Health Boards who had already provided the data.

SG Officials raised an upcoming training opportunity on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder run by the Fetal Alcohol Advisory Support & Training Team which may be of interest to members.

Data update 

An update was given confirming the new MORSE national template was now available for Boards to access. 

Members were reminded of the previous commission for case studies which demonstrate the positive impact of annual health checks. Boards were encouraged to complete the case study template. 

Health Board update presentation – NHS Highland Argyle and Bute

Colleagues from NHS Highland Argyle and Bute gave their presentation updating the Group regarding the progress made in implementing annual health checks.

AHC paperwork review – feedback from Boards

The revised pre-questionnaire section of the health check had been amended by the working group and some questions shared with the National Implementation Group for their consideration and feedback. The Group went through the questions and provided feedback. 

It was agreed that Members were to provide any further feedback ahead of the next Short Life Working Group meeting taking place on Thursday 29 January 2026.

Date of next meeting 

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 19 February 2026.