18,000 students with disabilities and additional needs are expected to benefit NHS checks.
Youngsters with disabilities and special needs in residential schools and colleges in England will soon receive NHS eyesight, dental and hearing checks.
The government pivoted NHS checks in 2022 and 2023, which are expected to be rolled out to educational institutions across England starting next year.
Students with learning disabilities and autistic children stand better chances of developing eyesight, dental and hearing problems than their colleagues.
The program is targeting to reach 18,000 students.
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England NHS’s national learning disability and autism director, Tom Cahill, stated that new checks would ensure any issues are identified on time.
He stated: “Mainstream services can sometimes struggle to meet the needs of autistic children and young people, or those with a profound learning disability, so these new sensory checks in residential special schools will provide the support they need.”
“Having specialist services which take account of an individual’s reasonable adjustments, with support from people that know them well and delivered by appropriately trained staff, will help ensure that they are able to access sensory checks that other children and young people routinely receive.”
Eyesight checks will be carried out yearly, and at least one face-to-face dental check will be provided, along with prevention visits and health advice.
Stephen Kinnock, the minister of state for care, stated that the checks will help combat health inequality and provide access to quick support.
He stated, “I am pleased we will be able to support vital sensory checks for all pupils in special educational settings in a comfortable and familiar environment.”
“These checks will enable health issues in around 18,000 children and young people to be identified more promptly.”
