Service Leaflet Lichfield (Easy Read)
STOMP stands for Stopping Over Medication of People with a learning disability, autism or both with psychotropic medicines.
It is a national project involving many different organisations which are helping to stop the over use of these medicines.
STOMP is about helping people to stay well and have a good quality of life.
Our Trust has signed the National STOMP Healthcare Pledge. This means services are working to reduce the use of psychotropic medication with people with learning disabilities and autism or both.
Public Health England says that every day about 30,000 to 35,000 adults with a learning disability are taking psychotropic medicines, when they do not have the health conditions the medicines are for. Children and young people are also prescribed them.
Sometimes people with learning disabilities can be prescribed these to manage behaviours that challenge services and they can remain on these for a long time increasing risk to the person.
These medicines are right for some people but not all.
The learning disabilities teams have completed the self-assessment audit tool and have an action plan with the aim to:
- encourage people to have regular check-ups about their medicines
- make sure doctors and other health professionals involve people, families and support staff in decisions about medicines
- inform everyone about non-drug therapies and practical ways of supporting people so they are less likely to need as much medicine, if any.
The learning disability service has had successful outcomes from working with service users to stop medication and offering alternative non pharmacological alternatives.
If you need any further information please contact the community Learning Disability Team on 0300 790 7000.