Equity of access to healthcare for a patient with a severe intellectual disability
My friend Dorothy (a pseudonym) is in her mid-40s. She loves parties and sharing good food with family and friends. She likes watching musicals and films, going to the ballet and the pantomime, to the pub and to church as well as expressing herself creatively. Whatever she is doing, she enjoys looking stylish and receiving compliments about her appearance. It has not been possible for Dorothy to have a thorough dental examination in her adult life, nor blood pressure checks, women’s health checks or any other preventative health checks. Why? Because she has a severe intellectual disability, and there are few services that provide the adjustments she would need to access preventative healthcare. It is also not possible for her to share her story because she has few clear words, and so I, a friend and former member of her care team, have worked with members of her family to write on her behalf. Dorothy is very wary of unfamiliar situations and people and often finds transitions hard. She