Good morning! We hope you can join us today in the Castletroy Park Hotel Limerick 11-13.00 for the launch of 'Doctors & Us', our study of what it's like for a person with an intellectual disability to visit a doctor. Important research for all health professionals & services.

Our chair Michael O'Sullivan welcomes everyone to the launch, including special guest Prof Roy McConkey, academic supporters from @UL, @tcddublin, @UCC, supporters from @NatFedVolBodies and all our @IRNtweets members and supporters. #DoctorsAndUs

Christina Burke introduces the current steering committee, including herself, James Delaney, Michael O'Sullivan, Brian Donohue, Carol Anne O'Toole, Derek Murphy, Helen O'Regan, Kathleen McMeel, and Research Leaders Joan Brody & Laura Murray. #DoctorsAndUs

#DoctorsAndUs We did 12 focus groups with 69 people with learning disabilities from Ireland, 39 men and 30 women. The average age was 45. We worked together to find key quotes from each focus group that showed how the stories linked up and where they were different.

We did this research because most studies talk about what doctors families or support staff have to say. We want to share stories of people with learning disabilities when they go to see the doctor, and find ways to help people feel more at ease at doctor visits. # #DoctorsAndUs

One of the findings is that people with learning disabilities feel looked after when the doctor's office is:
easy to access
welcoming
people feel at ease.
The findings are presented by Galway Drama Group, led by Shane, acting out a positive doctor visit. #DoctorsAndUs

The second key finding is about taking charge of your health, presented by Breda Cross.

Roscommon Drama Group act out this finding. People feel in charge of their health when it's:
easy to talk to the doctor
there is timely support
you know your rights
But not when:
you feel unsure
have no choice
feel disrespected
#DoctorsAndUs

The 3rd research finding is about how to make doctor visits better. This finding is presented by Clare Drama Group. #DoctorsAndUs

People said that doctor visits could be made better:
BEFORE visits if waiting rooms were nicer.
DURING visits if the doctor listens & speaks at a good pace.
AFTER visits if people have easy read notes to take away with them.
#DoctorsAndUs

Michael O'Sullivan introduces Prof Roy McConkey of Ulster University, who can't make it today but has sent a video message for attendees at #DoctorsAndUs launch.

Prof McConkey praises the research by @IRNtweets and notes that the Network is one of very few inclusive research networks in the world. The IRN reminds researchers of 'nothing about us without us'. #DoctorsAndUs

Dr Edurne Garcia Iriarte presents the rest of Prof McConkey's response to #DoctorsAndUs. He gives the report 3 gold stars, for it's design, execution and tight focus. He makes one criticism. He thinks @IRNtweets are too kind to doctors and health professionals!

Prof McConkey has some statistics that show how unequal the health system is for people with learning disabilities, and talks about how people with learning disabilities die earlier because if inequality. Health professionals must bear some responsibility for this. #DoctorsAndUs

We are just finishing up our Table Talks. People are discussing how we can use the findings from the #DoctorsAndUs project.

Main points are:
Doctors, health professionals and supporters need to take time to get to know us and what we want. #DoctorsAndUs can help us teach them that.
We need to speak up about accessibility, time, easy read prescriptions, and to call out when doctors speak over us.

We need to get a copy of #DoctorsAndUs to every GP, medical training college, and allied health professional in the country. We want respect & privacy when we visit the doctor. This is our right.

Brian Donohue notes that many doctors were invited, but none came. We want to talk easily to our doctors, but they have to listen. We have the right to know what is happening to our bodies and to feel looked after. #DoctorsAndUs