There is a range of support and dedicated services for people with learning disabilities or autism, including:
The Learning Disability Register
The Learning Disability Register is for babies, children, young people and adults who have a learning disability and are registered at their local GP practice.
The register lets the health staff at the GP surgery know that a person has a learning disability and that the person may need reasonable adjustments.
A dedicated team at Royal Cornwall Hospital provides support for children and adults with autism while in hospital
The acute liaison nursing service at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is in place, 7 days a week, to ensure that the health needs of children, young people and adults, who are autistic or have a learning disability, are met within acute care services by working in partnership with all agencies.
‘Going to Hospital’ books and Makaton signage at Royal Cornwall Hospital
The service has recently launched a new ‘Going to hospital: Adult edition’ book. This follows the successful development of a children’s ‘Going to Hospital’ book.
This short film, produced by RCHT in collaboration with disAbility Cornwall, explains about the ‘Going to Hospital’ books and the introduction of Makaton signage at the hospital, which have been designed to support people with learning difficulties.
You can find a range of information and resources, including a hospital passport which was introduced in 2021, to guide people with learning disability and autism and their carers to specialist support.
Screening videos make health information more accessible for people with learning disabilities
NHS England South West and Sirona care and health have launched a suite of videos to help people with learning disabilities better understand the importance of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and cervical screening.
Created in partnership with actors from Misfits theatre group, a social theatre group for people with learning disabilities, the aim of the films is to provide clear, step-by-step explanations of the process of screening to help people with learning disabilities know what to expect.
The suite of videos for both AAA and cervical screening are now available to watch on the NHS England South West YouTube channel.
Supporting autistic people in times of crisis
The autism intensive support team provides intensive support to adults with a formal diagnosis of autism living in Cornwall, whose autism is so severe that they are experiencing autistic crisis, placing them at imminent risk of a hospital admission, community placement breakdown or contact with the criminal justice system.
Locally-commissioned specialist services
We are working in collaboration with Cornwall Council to improve the quality of offer across services for people with a learning disability. Together, we commission an array of specialised services, including help to support people at home as well as empower individuals to use their experience positively to support peers. Some examples are:
- Citizen Checkers support people with a learning disability who are, or have been, an inpatient on a mental health ward (in and out of county) following them on their journey and supporting them to resettle back into their community.
- Practice Partners is a team of people with learning disability who work with our GP surgeries and patient participation groups to ensure that GP services work well for people with a learning disability.
- The Hearing Families support service was launched to help families be heard in the care of their loved ones with a learning disability and/or autism.
- The CHAMPS team employs and trains people with lived experience of disability to help ensure patients with a learning disability in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly get equality in access to health services.
Adult social care
Cornwall Council works in partnership with individuals and their families to understand their perspectives, which forms the core of its social work practice. Specific information can be found on:
Mental health services and support
Across NHS mental health services, there is an advanced clinical practitioner who works across all clinical areas to advise, support and educate staff and teams about the needs and wellbeing of autistic people.
Children and young people: right to choose for neurodevelopmental assessment
The following information outlines professional and parent-carer guidance on the scope, remit, and key details regarding ‘Right to Choose’ options. These options are available when individuals face long waiting times for Autism and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessments and wish to explore alternative pathways to access NHS provision.
Page last reviewed: 11 December 2025