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

Attendees and apologies

• SG Officials

• Representative for NHS Borders

• Representative for NHS Grampian

• Representative for NHS Fife

• Representative for NHS Forth Valley

• Representative for NHS Highland North

• Representative for NHS Highland Argyll & Bute

• Representative for NHS Tayside

• Representative for NHS Western Isles

• Representative for NHS Ayrshire and Arran

• Representative for NHS Lothian

• Representative for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

• Representatives for NHS PSDS

• Representatives for Public Health Scotland

• Representatives for Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory

 

Apologies:

• Representative for NHS Orkney

• Representative for NHS Lanarkshire

Items and actions

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and advised that a transcription system was being used for note taking purposes. 

SG updates

The Group were advised that  national data collection for 2025-26 was published on Monday 10 August. A link to the publication was shared with the group.

The dates of future meetings for the remainder of the year were agreed, and diary invitations will be issued to the group. The dates of the meetings are:

•    Thursday 24 September 13:00-14:00 – Presentation from Enable Scotland and PAMIS in relation to supporting the delivery of annual health checks.
•    Thursday 22 October 13:00 – 14:30 – Presentations on research relevant to the health check programme. 
•    Thursday 19 November 13:00 – 14:00 – Marketing and promotional approaches to health checks
•    Thursday 10 December 13:00 – 14:00

An update was provided on the revised annual health check paperwork, which is currently being considered by the Scottish Government's legal department. Members were reminded to continue to use the original paperwork for the meantime and implementation dates for the new paperwork will be communicated.

Presentation on the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme (SVIP)

A presentation was given to the group by Dr Ruth Dryden, Organisation Lead for Vaccination and Immunisation at Public Health Scotland (PHS),  Kathy Valentine, Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist at PHS and Lindsey Milroy, Principal Educator at Public Services Delivery Scotland on the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme.

It was agreed that the vaccination and immunisation resources that were referenced in the presentation, would be shared with the Group. It was also suggested that it might be helpful if these resources where shared with the annual health check involvement network which is made up of representatives from third sector organisations, people with learning disabilities and their families/carers. 

Discussions took place around whether health check teams should be more aware of Section 47 certificates for patients who may lack capacity, and it was explained that while health check staff are not expected to undertake these assessments, they should identify concerns and refer them to GPs so that appropriate healthcare arrangements can be put in place.

There was a discussion around a local issue in relation to vaccine administration within a Health Board. It was agreed that the contact information for the local immunisation coordinator would be passed on for further discussions and advice.

Date of next meeting 

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 24 September 2026 – 13:00-14:00