Patterns of health service utilisation by children with intellectual disabilities require specific responses to reduce health inequalities

Due to their health concerns, children with intellectual disabilities require access to health services for assessments, investigations and treatments. The study by Nicholson et al., analysed data from the Growing up in Ireland study comparing children with intellectual disabilities and those without to identify health needs and health service utilisation. Some utilisation patterns were the same, with children with intellectual disabilities more likely to visit a doctor and require an overnight admission to hospital.