Hi readers, it’s Emily and William here this week, talking with our guest zoomer, Jo Findlay from Dorset County Hospital. We interviewed Jo this week, and in the coming weeks will share our conversation with her, about what’s happening at the hospital, and her role there.

Perhaps the most important thing we learnt is how people with learning disabilities can get the right support if they need medical care.

The first message for everyone is don’t be scared to go to hospital if you need medical help. Staff there are working hard to keep you safe and help you. Because of COVID-19, things might be done differently, and that is to keep you safe.

For people with a learning disability, we can get something called a Care Passport, which helps us if we need medical help. The Care Passport is a form with simple easy read questions, where we write information about ourselves. This helps doctors or hospital staff give us the support we need, so we can have the best experience possible.

For that to happen, the medical staff need to know as much as possible about us. Things like what makes us anxious, our communication needs, allergies, things we like and don’t like, the people who support us and so on. Remember they have never met us before, so the more we share the better.

We both have care passports which need updating, which we will do with our parents. We will keep it, fold it up and take it with us into hospital if we have to go there. It can be good to give another copy to your doctor to keep. If you have a learning disability and need one, you can contact People First Dorset who will help get you one.

Until next week, stay safe and well.

The writers of the Our View column are supported in their editing by People First Dorset - a charity led and run by people with learning disabilities with support from staff