Adult Learning Disabilities - Annual Health Checks Implementation Group Minutes: June 2026

Attendees and apologies

• SG Officials
• Representative for NHS Borders
• Representative for NHS Forth Valley
• Representative for NHS Grampian
• Representative for NHS Fife
• Representative for NHS Orkney
• Representative for NHS Shetland
• Representative for NHS Highland North
• Representative for NHS Highland Argyll & Bute
• Representative for NHS Lanarkshire
• Representative for NHS Tayside
• Representative for NHS Western Isle
• Representative for NHS Ayrshire and Arran
• Representative for NHS PSDS

Apologies:

• Representative for NHS Lothian
• Representative for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 

Items and actions

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. It was explained that this meeting would have a focus on reviewing the revised annual health checks paperwork that has been revised by the short-life working group (SLWG) with input from NIG representatives and Annual Health Check Network members which had been set up to undertake a formal review of the delivery of annual health checks paperwork.

Annual health checks paperwork

The Group went through the Plain English version of the pre-questionnaire line by line. This should be completed by the individual and their family/carer ahead of the appointment with the nurse or doctor delivering the main body of the annual health check. The Plain English version has been led and guided by speech and language colleagues to ensure that the document complies with the plain English language standard. The plain English version should be available to everyone. Should a person require Easy Read, this should be available to the person and or their supportive carers.

Some concerns remain regarding the length of the document. This reflects feedback during the process of review which included the length being, too long, too short and just right. The length of the document is largely due to ensuring that everyone’s previous feedback/need were included and reasonable adjustments included within the paperwork such as pictorial support. The group accepted these points.

In the dentistry section, the question was raised around if there were any specialised dentistry services for individuals with a learning disability. It was confirmed that there was and NHS colleagues will pick this up further offline. 

The Group were then shown the EasyRead version of the pre-questionnaire. Speech and Language (SLT) colleagues again led the process to advise on what was appropriate to include. Thanks was given to SLT colleagues.

Whether a section should be added on hospital passports in the prequestionnaire was raised. Previously when discussing hospital passports with a large group of people with lived experience and their families there was some confusion around what this was. It was agreed that this would be explored further.

Next, the revised version of the next section, the main body of the annual health check document, which is filled out by the clinician who undertakes the check was discussed line by line. The Chair gave thanks to the number of different professions that had contributed the revised paperwork.  Sections within this on vaccinations, screening and phlebotomy protocol will be reviewed on an annual basis with the next review taking place for each of these sections in April 2027. Leads from the Screening Oversite and Assurance Scotland Public Services Delivery Scotland and Vaccination and Immunisation Public Health Scotland, have/will present to the NIG in May and August 2026. The phlebotomy protocol is reviewed annually by primary care. 

Information on the contact information for the individual national screening services was shared with the Group and links will be circulated alongside the note of the meeting.

The Health Action Plan has been reviewed by speech and language therapists and is available in varying formats.

Members were asked to continue complying with the original documentation and national directions until the updated versions go live. Date to be confirmed. It was confirmed that the national directions will be reviewed by the Scottish Governments legal department.

Questions asked in the chat function throughout the meeting will be collated and passed on to the short-life working group for consideration. 

Research studies with relevance to the Health Check were discussed and the group are asked to consider a research theme to the October meeting. 

Any other business

Themes of the upcoming meetings:

•    July – focus on reviewing the annual national data collection for 2025-26 submitted by Boards.
•    August – Vaccination and Immunisation
•    September – Third sector input to supporting the roll out of the Scottish Health Check for Adults with Learning Disabilities. Enable Scotland and PAMIS will present to NIG to discuss how third sector can support Boards in the delivery of health checks.
•    October - research studies with relevance to the Scottish Health Check for Adults with Learning Disabilities. 

Date of next meeting 

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 16 July 2026 2-3 pm.