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

Attendees and apologies

SG Officials
Representative for NHS Borders
Representative for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 
Representative for NHS Tayside
Representative for NHS Lothian
Representative for NHS North Highland
Representative for NHS Highland Argyll and Bute
Representative for NHS Lanarkshire
Representative for NHS Forth Valley
Representative for NHS Dumfries and Galloway
Representative for NHS NES
Representative for NHS24
Representative for NHS Grampian

Apologies:
Representative for NHS Western Isles

Items and actions

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Updates from Scottish Government

The Chair reminded the group of the upcoming pre-election period arrangements, which commences as of Thursday 26 March. It was agreed that there would be no meeting taking place in April. The first meeting back will take place on Thursday 21 May 2026.

The Group were advised of the upcoming annual national data collection. The survey will be similar to the one issued for the previous year.  It was agreed that due to the upcoming pre-election period returns would not be due until mid-May.  An email will be sent round the Group with further detail. 

SG Officials advised the Group that the Coming Home Action Plan was published on Thursday 19 March. It was noted that within the Action Plan there are actions which relate to the delivery of annual health checks.

Data update 

An update was provided by the SG LD Data Advisor.  Members were advised of an meeting taking place with Intersystems to discuss the development of a national template for Trakcare.

An update was provided on the work of the MORSE national template development. A meeting date was unable to be secured therefore, this will be picked up again after the pre-election period. 

Following from a previous request from SG for Health Boards to provide case studies which demonstrate the impact of annual health checks, officials are still looking for more case studies. Support was offered in completing the case study template.

Update from NHS24

Representatives spoke to the Group about how NHS24 are keen to consider how best they are able to support the delivery of annual health checks. It was highlighted that one of the key barrier for NHS24 staff is around the difficulties in identifying the LD population and how the Key Information Summary is key to help with this. 

NHS24 are ensuring that staff are aware of health check resources that are available and they are incorporating awareness sessions as part of induction of new staff.

NHS24 spoke about the Group about the recently developed NHS Inform pages. There are 3 new learning disability pages which are now live. This includes a specific page on annual health checks. Throughout development of the pages lived experience and advice from professionals was incorporated.  It was noted that throughout the process, there was some difficulties in capturing expectations due to the different processes in place across individual Boards. 

It was noted that all pages will be translates into Easyread and will be reviewed annually. However, feedback can be updated at any time. 

The team are now working with Down Syndrome Scotland to review the Down Syndrome NHS Inform pages. 

Update from NES 

An update was provided on NES working with Down Syndrome Scotland, looking at specific needs of individuals with Downs Syndrome and how individuals can be supported through their health check.  NES have produced a podcast about how people who have Down Syndrome can access the Scottish annual health check.

NES have developed a film with PAMIS which is now at the edit stage, which addresses the topic of how people who have profound and multiple learning disabilities can access the Scottish annual health check, and what reasonable adjustments looks like.

NES are also reviewing and redeveloping their TURAS pages so that it reflects ongoing work. They continue to review and evaluate existing materials around the essentials of learning disability including their Annual Health Check composite document.

AHC paperwork review – feedback from Boards

The Chair thanked the Boards who provided feedback ahead of the meeting. 

The Group went through the questions, which focused on the additional information section of the health check. Members provided feedback and this will be
collated and sent to the SLWG for consideration.

Any other business

The Group were asked to consider if there are any themes for future meetings that they would like to see. Suggestions included meetings with a focus on resources, quality, consistency, evaluation and third sector involvement. Members were encouraged to feedback any suggestions.

Date of next meeting 

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 21 May 2026 1-2 pm