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Chapter 6146extra time for a consultation, thus allowing the practitioner to give sufficient attention and time to the patient during consultations and adapt the level of communication to the MID. From an earlier study, it appears that more than 80% of people with MID were not registered as such in Dutch primary care.5In the United Kingdom (UK), registration is higher thanks to the register for people with ID developed for the Quality and Outcomes Framework, an incentive programme for all GP practices in the UK. 20 However, there too, there are people with MID who are not registered as such in primary care. 21Thirdly, practitioners need to actively involve the patient’s network. Regarding the informal network, it is important for practitioners to be aware of the network’s capacity and signalise if additional support for the network or patient is needed. 22 A strong formal network consists of familiar professionals who are able to provide both practical and emotional support to people with MID, for whom it is clear what their practitioners and carers expect of them. 23 Therefore, it is important that these professionals have adequate training and peer supervision opportunities, with clear tasks and an appropriate workload. 24Fourthly, because patients with both MID and MH problems often present with multiple problems that are often not within the practitioner’s scope, the practitioner must have access to an adequate regional network of both medical and non-medical professionals who work closely and in coordination. The findability and accessibility of these professionals are not always evident for Dutch practitioners. In contrast to the UK and the United States of America, in the Netherlands there are no ID psychiatrists, Community Learning Disability Teams, or ID nurses available to support practitioners in the care for this patient group. 25-27 These professionals play a role in coordinating care, improving individuals’ physical and mental health, reducing barriers to independent living, supporting individuals in leading a fulfilling life, and advocating strongly for improved knowledge about the care for patients with ID in general. The experiences gained internationally can provide insights into whether and how the introduction of an ID nurse would be of added value in Dutch primary care practices.Katrien Pouls sHL.indd 146 24-06-2024 16:26