ABSTRACT
Introduction Healthcare provision for people with learning disabilities has, until recently, received little attention. During the early part of this century, when a eugenic view prevailed, children with learning disabilities were often admitted to longstay institutions and their heathcare needs were neglected. With the recent increase in public awareness of health issues, support from the Government with the publication of The Health of the Nation (Department of Health 1995) and greater advocacy, there is now the potential for much needed change. At present, most causes of learning disabilities (e.g. chromosome abnormalities or birth trauma) are untreatable. However, high-quality healthcare may reduce the impact of disabilities or handicaps and improve quality of life.
