Ruth Wetherall - Acute Learning Disability Liaison Nurse

As the Acute Learning Disability Liaison Nurse in the Whittington Hospital I hold a diverse role.

My main duties are to support patients and their families when they come into hospital, through what can be a daunting experience.

Ruth Wetherall

“I enjoy learning disability nursing with the uniqueness and challenge the job brings; if you can go home at the end of the day, making even the smallest difference to a person, then it was a good day!”

This can range from supporting someone to undergo a test, e.g. during an ultrasound scan, or helping them when they need to attend the emergency department. If patients require admission, I am there to ensure that any we make reasonable adjustments as required.

All patients are encouraged to bring a hospital passport with them to their appointments and hospital visits, helping staff understand their specific needs. I work with the doctors and nurses to help raise awareness about learning disabilities across the Trust, ensuring that they are able communicate appropriately with patients. I liaise with the different specialities across the hospital, ensuring a holistic approach to nursing care. This includes working with the Children and Young People’s and Safeguarding teams, to make sure patient safety is always our main priority.

Not all the services we offer are based inside the hospital. I work closely with those teams in the community such as the local Community Learning Disability teams. Their knowledge of the person means I can try and make each person’s experience as efficient as possible.

I am part of a wider multi-disciplinary team that meet regularly to discuss how best we can improve the service we offer to patients with a learning disability.

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