Quality concerns over mandatory autism training raised by GPs

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By Erin Dean

Concerns from GPs about “inconsistency” in the quality of mandatory training on the care of patients with autism and learning disabilities have been raised with NHS England.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said GPs have reported issues on how the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is delivered and highlighted the importance of over-stretched doctors using their time “effectively”.

The training is named after Oliver, who had autism, a mild learning disability and epilepsy. His death at the age of 18 after being prescribed anti-psychotic medication was “potentially avoidable”, a review suggested.

The Health and Care Act 2022 introduced a statutory requirement that Care Quality Commission-registered providers must ensure their staff receive learning disability and autism training appropriate to their role.     

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training is NHS England’s preferred and recommended training for health and social care staff. 

The training for those who may provide support to patients with autism or learning disabilities, which is the form most likely to be needed by doctors, involves a 90-minute e-learning session plus a day of face-to-face training.