Ambulance crews now better equipped to support patients with learning disabilities

People with a learning disability and autistic people across the North East are set to receive more personalised and effective care after North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) reached a major milestone in specialist workforce training.

More than 90% of NEAS staff have now completed Learning Disability and Autism training, equipping ambulance crews to better understand patients’ needs, communicate clearly, and adapt their response to the individual in urgent and emergency situations.

The achievement has earned NEAS Diamond Standard accreditation from regional partners.

The training highlights that no two patients are the same, helping reduce barriers to care and improve safety, experience, and outcomes for people with a learning disability and autistic people. It also supports wider efforts to tackle long-standing health inequalities, including the higher risk of premature death faced by this group.

The milestone builds on NEAS’s sector-first Learning Disability and Autism training programme, co-developed with people with lived experience, carers, and advocacy groups. Designed specifically for the ambulance service, the programme draws on real patient experiences and focuses on what matters most during an emergency.

“This training is about making care better for patients. It helps our staff understand people as individuals, recognise their needs and adapt how they respond in what can be a very stressful situation.

“Reaching over 90% of our workforce is a significant milestone, but what really matters is the difference this makes when someone with a learning disability or an autistic person needs our help. It supports safer care, clearer communication and a better experience for patients and their families.”

Karen Gardner, Assistant Director of People and Development, NEAS.

A key factor in the programme’s success has been its co-production. People with lived experience helped shape the training through workshops and honest accounts of using ambulance services – what worked well and what could be improved.

Mica Hoare, from Independent Voices in Redcar and Cleveland, who contributed to developing the training, said:

“We wanted to help ambulance staff understand us, so they can help us. When staff know more about learning disability and autism, it makes a real difference.

“Knowing that so many ambulance staff have now completed this training gives confidence that people like me will be listened to, understood and treated with respect when we need care.”

The programme was created in partnership with the North East & North Cumbria Learning Disability and Autism Network, ensuring a consistent regional approach while reducing duplication and variation.

With the majority of staff now trained, NEAS is embedding the learning into everyday practice, making sure people with a learning disability and autistic people are seen, heard, and supported when they need emergency care most.

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