Mum pleads for cash help as new patient group launched (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Learning Disabilities Hospital Support is new advice body

11:30am Thursday 28th June 2012 in News By Kathie Griffiths, T&A Reporter

A Bradford mum is looking for £5,000 sponsorship to win charity status for a new nationwide advice group.

Maralyn Adey came up with the idea for LDHS (Learning Disabilities Hospital Support) after her 27-year-old son Kristian, who has Down’s Syndrome and heart and lung problems, spent eight weeks in hospital with a brain abscess.

She said the family’s experience while he was a patient at Leeds General Infirmary was not easy because it was blighted by a lack of communication between consultants and a lack of information passed on to ward nurses.

Mrs Ade, of Wrose Road, Shipley, has now created LDHS as a way of helping people in the same situation know their rights and to campaign for improvements.

She has already worked with Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust to create a Patients Passport which travels round with the patient containing vital care and needs information.

This week she is also helping to make a training DVD with the Trust for its staff.

Chief Nurse at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Ruth Holt, said: “Maralyn’s work to raise the profile of the importance of ensuring hospitals understand the needs of patients with learning disabilities has been a great help. We have been delighted to work with her.”

She now needs the £5,000 fee to get the charity off the ground and attract funding.

“It’s only me and my husband and a few other volunteers at the moment running it and we’ve had a website designed for free but we really need that £5,000,” she said.

To help support LDHS visit ldhs.org, e-mail info@ldhs. org.uk or call 07770882404.