Adult Learning Disabilities - Annual Health Checks Implementation Group Minutes: October 2025

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 Fife
Representative for NHS Grampian
Representative for NHS Tayside
Representative for NHS Lanarkshire 
Representative for NHS Western Isles
Representative for NHS Lothian
Representative for NHS Forth Valley
Representative for NHS 24
Representative for NHS Shetland

Apologies:
Representative for NHS Highland
Representative for NHS Orkney
Representative for NHS Lanarkshire

Items and actions

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

Updates from Scottish Government

An update was provided on the establishment of the new Learning Disabilities Annual Health Check Implementation Network. The network is coordinated by SCLD with representation from individuals with lived experience and organisations. The network will support wider engagement in the implementation of annual health checks and will be a way for individuals with lived experience to come together.

There was a discussion on whether this Network could be used to evaluate the annual health check process at a National level. SG Officials encouraged Boards to promote the Network and SG will provide members with contact information for the Network should Members wish to gain further information.

An update was provided on the short-life working group which has been set up to undertake a formal review of the delivery of annual health checks paperwork.  The piece of work is being facilitated by SCLD and feedback from members of this group will continue to be incorporated throughout the process. 

SG officials thanked Board representatives for returning their quarter two data on health check delivery. It was emphasised that returns were positive and that there had been some great feedback on onward referrals. 

The Group were advised that the Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing is attending the Learning Disability Cross Party Group Meeting on Wednesday 29 October 2025.

 

Data update 

The Group were advised that there has been a new web page set up for the  LD Annual Health Checks Data Programme Board. Minutes of these meetings will be published on this page.

An update was provided in relation to PHS PCIS Proposal, which aims to extract GP data to improve understanding of the health and healthcare outcomes of people with learning disabilities. It was confirmed that this piece of work has now been approved by the PHS GP Editorial Board and members will be updated on progress of the work. 

An update was provided on the MORSE Group that is being created to discuss the development of a national approach to developing a Morse AHC template. Members were assured that this Group will still go ahead, however, it was likely that a meeting will be arranged in the new year.

 

Request from Scottish Executive Nurse Directors (SEND) to Scottish Learning Disability Lead Nurse Group 

Scottish Learning Disability Lead Nurse Group Chairs were asked by SEND if Health Boards could provide an update on the delivery models insitu for delivering annual health checks across Scottish Health Boards. A template to capture the feedback will be developed and shared.

 

Case studies

SG request from Boards to provide case studies which demonstrate the impact of annual health checks. Officials have requested individual impact and service level stories.

SG will issue the case study template to members for completion and are happy to provide support should it be needed.

 

Date of next meeting 

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 20 November 2025.