My training did not prepare me for this! Specialist palliative carers knowledge of intellectual disability. 13th World Congress IASSID

Aim: This study investigated the knowledge base of palliative health care professionals working with people with intellectual disabilities who were dying.

Method: Focus groups were held with 38 doctors and nurses in 7 specialist palliative care providers in Kent, UK. Areas of discussion included levels of professional experience in the care of people with ID, areas of concern and barriers to care provision.

Results: Data showed that involvement of specialist palliative care services for people with intellectual disability is small. Specialists expressed the view that their training and knowledge of this patient group is also low and that this resulted in anxieties as to how to adequately care for this patient group.

Conclusions: Specialist palliative care providers have little contact with patients with ID and know little about their specific ID needs. Whilst there may be no obvious discrim- ination against these patients there is a need for greater awareness of ID amongst staff, at all levels, so that the needs of people with ID can

be addressed adequately, and appropriately.