Introduction – Our Vision
Gateshead Health NHS Trust will be the best place in England for people with a learning disability to receive healthcare.
There are approximately 1.5million people in the UK who are learning disabled.
Health inequalities that people with a learning disability can experience are partly caused by poor quality healthcare.
According to the 2023 Leder report that looked into the lives and deaths of people with a learning disability and autistic people; on average women die 23 years younger and men die 20 years younger than the general population.
As learning disability specialists Amy and Helen are passionate about improving access to healthcare for this client group to reduce premature mortality and health inequalities.
North East and Cumbria Learning Disability Network
Our Mission
To tackle health, education and social care inequalities faced by people with a learning disability in the North East and Cumbria so they have equal and equitable access to high quality health, education and social care support to enable good quality of life for them and their families.
North East and Cumbria Learning Disability Network has an extensive range of work programmes that are delivered across secondary care, primary care, community care and tackling broader health inequalities. To see the latest range of resources, including Health and Care Passports, please visit the North East and Cumbria Learning Disability Network website.
What We do?
We support People with a Learning disability who need to use this hospital.
This service is available Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) 8.30 – 4.30 pm
How can we help?
We can help if anybody with a learning disability comes into hospital.
We can help with appointments.
We can help ask questions about health and get information in an accessible way.
Who are we?

We are the Acute Learning Disability Team. Amy Mitchell and Helen Burn Learning Disability Nurses.