Adult Learning Disabilities - Annual Health Checks Implementation Group minutes: May 2026

Attendees and apologies

SG Officials
Representative for NHS Borders
Representative for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 
Representative for NHS Forth Valley
Representative for NHS24
Representative for NHS Grampian
Representative for NHS Orkney
Representative for NHS Shetland
Representative for NHS Highland North
Public health representatives 

Apologies:
Representative for NHS Forth Valley
Representative for NHS Highland North
Representative for NHS Lanarkshire

Items and actions

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced new members.

Updates from Scottish Government

The group were thanked for submitting their national annual health check data, and those who hadn’t yet submitted it were asked to do so as soon as possible. The group were advised that this data will now be analysed together with statisticians and will be prepared for publication. The group will be kept updated on the progress of the publication and informed when it is published. This data will be a theme of discussion at a future NIG meeting where there will be an opportunity to discuss and reflect on it in more detail. 

An update was provided to the group following the formation of the new cabinet, noting Maree Todd, who is already familiar with the work on Annual Health Checks, will again be the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing. SG officials will bring the new Ministers and Cabinet Secretary up to date on the progress around Annual Health Checks. 

The chair thanked members for their work on updating the Annual Health Check paperwork. The next meeting will be used to go through the new paperwork in more detail, it is hoped as many members as possible will be able to attend this meeting and participate.

Data update 

An update was provided by the SG LD Data Advisor.  Members were advised of the first meeting of the MORSE Development Group taking place directly after this one to continue work on the MORSE national template development, to set up a digital version of the annual health check using the revised paperwork. Updates on this work as it progresses will be provided to the group going forward.

It was noted that similar work is progressing on the development of a national template for Trakcare. The group will similarly be kept updated on this progress.

Further ongoing work was mentioned such as work on a GP data extract from PHS and work around a register for those aged 14 and 15 who will be coming into eligibility for a health check. Further details will be shared with the group as that work develops.

The group were thanked for providing case studies which demonstrate the impact of annual health checks. The edited and anonymised versions will be sent to respective teams. Members were asked to confirm in writing that SG Officials have permission to share these.

Presentation from Screening Oversite and Assurance Scotland (SOAS)

The Health Improvement Lead of Screening Oversite and Assurance Scotland SOAS), Public Services Delivery Scotland gave a presentation on overview of population health screening programmes in Scotland and relevant work relating to the learning disability annual health checks.

This included what screening is, the stages in the screening pathway, eligibility and screening intervals for national screening programmes, and examples of national screening programmes such as:

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening
• Diabetic Eye Screening
• Bowel Screening
• Breast Screening
• Cervical Screening

Information was also presented on ongoing projects in Scotland such as the HPV Self-sampling Pilot and work on the development of a Targeted Lung Cancer Screening Pathway. Additionally, the group were informed about ongoing work with Scottish government departments on screening and adults with incapacity (AWI). This included working together with different stakeholders to try and improve communication to individuals and carers about vaccinations and screening for AWI. One of the ways this will be done is via the annual health check paperwork. A list of new questions has been added in the updated Scottish health check for people with learning disabilities related to this.

The presentation explored equity in screening noting completed equity audits for all adult programmes this year looking at barriers and solutions to overcoming  these and an evaluation of the equity screening strategy which will commence in 2027. The equity in screening network was highlighted and the group were asked to get in touch if they wanted to join the network or suggest members. 

To close, helpful links were shared with the group. The slides for this presentation will be shared with the group as well as some additional information on Web2print. The group were encouraged to share and use Web2print to order resources they need for free.

The Chair thanked the Health Improvement Lead for the presentation and opened the conversation up for questions, thoughts and reflections. These included more integration of screening and vaccination as part of annual health checks, the updated paperwork and the additional questions relating to capacity and increasing access and participation for this population in the programmes.  

There was a brief discussion on sexual health and activity as an area that needs more focus for people with learning disabilities to tackle assumptions and allow more access to screening and support. Ongoing work on a pilot for self-sampling in this area was noted.

Any other business

It was noted that the main topic of discussion at the next meeting of this group will be the updated paperwork and further timescales for review where this will be discussed in more detail. However, individual areas such a screening and vaccination will be reviewed on an annual basis. 

The group have agreed from May – December 2026, that meetings will be themed with presentations and updates relating to these themes. The themes will be based on recommendations agreed by the group in February and March 2026 and work that will be able to drive forward the implementation of the annual health checks. 

Date of next meeting 

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 18 June 2026 1-2 pm.