Access to Health Care:: Implementation and Outcomes of a Hospital-Based Anaesthesia Protocol for People With Intellectual Disability

Michelle Bellon; Farima Farooziya; Rodney Mitchell; Sharon Liberali; Monica Welsh; Paul Jones; Stephanie Searle

doi:10.1111/jar.70100

Access to Health Care: Implementation and Outcomes of a Hospital-Based Anaesthesia Protocol for People With Intellectual Disability

Michelle Bellon
, Farima Farooziya
, Rodney Mitchell
, Sharon Liberali
, Monica Welsh
, Paul Jones
, Stephanie Searle

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

13 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background
People with intellectual disability face numerous barriers to accessing basic preventative health care. This study documents the protocol, process and health outcomes of a multidisciplinary hospital-based Health Care Access Service providing pre-procedure sedation and general anaesthesia for adults with moderate to profound intellectual disability and complexity.

Method
In this retrospective quality assurance study, development of the protocol, procedures and outcomes (demographic data, procedures performed and health outcomes) are presented for all patients from commencement of the service for the first 8 month period.

Results
Ten people received the service over this time (8 males, 2 females; mean age 30.2 years). Investigation results identified a range of health conditions which are now being appropriately managed. A case study illustrates the process of implementing the protocol, procedures and outcomes, illustrating person-centred and trauma-informed approaches.

Conclusions
Service design considerations are discussed from a human rights perspective for future implementation efforts.

Original language	English
Article number	e70100
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities
Volume	38
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.70100
Publication status	Published - Jul 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

access
anaesthesia
hospital
human rights
intellectual disability
practice

Access to Document

10.1111/jar.70100Licence: CC BY-NC

Published versionFinal published version, 221 KBLicence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

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title = "Access to Health Care:: Implementation and Outcomes of a Hospital-Based Anaesthesia Protocol for People With Intellectual Disability",

abstract = "Background People with intellectual disability face numerous barriers to accessing basic preventative health care. This study documents the protocol, process and health outcomes of a multidisciplinary hospital-based Health Care Access Service providing pre-procedure sedation and general anaesthesia for adults with moderate to profound intellectual disability and complexity. Method In this retrospective quality assurance study, development of the protocol, procedures and outcomes (demographic data, procedures performed and health outcomes) are presented for all patients from commencement of the service for the first 8 month period. Results Ten people received the service over this time (8 males, 2 females; mean age 30.2 years). Investigation results identified a range of health conditions which are now being appropriately managed. A case study illustrates the process of implementing the protocol, procedures and outcomes, illustrating person-centred and trauma-informed approaches. Conclusions Service design considerations are discussed from a human rights perspective for future implementation efforts.",

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author = "Michelle Bellon and Farima Farooziya and Rodney Mitchell and Sharon Liberali and Monica Welsh and Paul Jones and Stephanie Searle",

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doi = "10.1111/jar.70100",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Access to Health Care:

T2 - Implementation and Outcomes of a Hospital-Based Anaesthesia Protocol for People With Intellectual Disability

AU - Bellon, Michelle

AU - Farooziya, Farima

AU - Mitchell, Rodney

AU - Liberali, Sharon

AU - Welsh, Monica

AU - Jones, Paul

AU - Searle, Stephanie

PY - 2025/7

Y1 - 2025/7

N2 - Background People with intellectual disability face numerous barriers to accessing basic preventative health care. This study documents the protocol, process and health outcomes of a multidisciplinary hospital-based Health Care Access Service providing pre-procedure sedation and general anaesthesia for adults with moderate to profound intellectual disability and complexity. Method In this retrospective quality assurance study, development of the protocol, procedures and outcomes (demographic data, procedures performed and health outcomes) are presented for all patients from commencement of the service for the first 8 month period. Results Ten people received the service over this time (8 males, 2 females; mean age 30.2 years). Investigation results identified a range of health conditions which are now being appropriately managed. A case study illustrates the process of implementing the protocol, procedures and outcomes, illustrating person-centred and trauma-informed approaches. Conclusions Service design considerations are discussed from a human rights perspective for future implementation efforts.

AB - Background People with intellectual disability face numerous barriers to accessing basic preventative health care. This study documents the protocol, process and health outcomes of a multidisciplinary hospital-based Health Care Access Service providing pre-procedure sedation and general anaesthesia for adults with moderate to profound intellectual disability and complexity. Method In this retrospective quality assurance study, development of the protocol, procedures and outcomes (demographic data, procedures performed and health outcomes) are presented for all patients from commencement of the service for the first 8 month period. Results Ten people received the service over this time (8 males, 2 females; mean age 30.2 years). Investigation results identified a range of health conditions which are now being appropriately managed. A case study illustrates the process of implementing the protocol, procedures and outcomes, illustrating person-centred and trauma-informed approaches. Conclusions Service design considerations are discussed from a human rights perspective for future implementation efforts.

KW - access

KW - anaesthesia

KW - hospital

KW - human rights

KW - intellectual disability

KW - practice

U2 - 10.1111/jar.70100

DO - 10.1111/jar.70100

M3 - Article

SN - 1360-2322

VL - 38

JO - Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities

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