Annual Health Checks
NES Learning Disabilities team will continue to review and update this page as required.
Some of the below links and resources will direct you to information sources that are external to NES. These have not been created by NES and have been included for your information only. The inclusion of these sources is not as a recommendation or an endorsement of the associated content.
Reducing health inequalities is everyone’s responsibility. We hope you find the content on this page supports you in your ambition to improve health outcomes for people with learning disabilities in Scotland.
Annual health checks for people with learning disabilities were launched in Scotland on 20 May 2022 and should be offered to all people with a learning disability (in Scotland) by 31 May 2023.
The Scottish Government (2022) defines an annual health check as “a targeted invitation for a yearly check-up of the person with a learning disability’s health.”
Scottish Government advise that health checks are
The Scottish Health Check for Adults with Learning Disabilities is the approved format for use in Scotland. Providers are required to maintain a register of adults with learning disabilities. If a person does not respond to a health check invite, providers must issue an invite at least another two times annually.
You can access further information on the annual health checks for people with learning disabilities (Scotland) directions 2022 here. In addition, you are encouraged to adopt a trauma informed approach to your practice when supporting people with learning disabilities. Find out more by accessing NES national trauma training programme.
Please note the collection of resources is an evolving process that will expand as more evidence becomes available.
For further information, please watch this video -The Scottish Annual Health Check