The Learning Disability Team

The team work with adults who have a learning disability, to help facilitate their patient journey whilst accessing hospital services.

Working hours are: 8.00am - 4.00pm, Monday to Saturday.

The team comprises of:

Saoirse Read (Learning Disability and Autism Spectrum  Liaison Services Manager and Team Leader)

Saoirse joined the team in September 2013, she is Learning Disabilities trained and has many years' experience working in a managers role in a community setting. Saoirse works full time.

Natasha Teague (Learning Disabilities Liaison Nurse)

Natasha qualified as a Learning Disability Nurse in Belfast in 2017. She is originally from Northern Ireland but moved to Australia for 18 months in 2019 before coming to Plymouth in August 2020, joining the Learning Disability Liaison Team as a full time member. She has worked within various roles providing person centred care to children and adults who have a Learning Disability and/or are Autistic, both in Ireland and Australia.

Stuart Quarterman (Learning Disabilities Clinical Lead Nurse) 

My name is Stuart and I have been in post as ‘Clinical Lead Nurse’ for the Learning Disabilities Liaison Service since January ’22.

I started my career as a Care assistant in Nursing homes in Plymouth.  After 4 years, I worked at the Royal Eye Infirmary in Mutley where they persuaded me to start my Nurse Training.

My first job as a Staff Nurse was on the broken hip unit at Derriford and after my Preceptorship, I got a job in the Emergency Department.  During my 13 years in ED, I progressed to Charge Nurse, then Clinical Educator, before doing my Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) training.  One of my responsibilities in ED was to be the Link practitioner for Learning Disabilities, where I started to work with the LD team to make Reasonable Adjustments within the Department.

Other professional interests continue to be Clinical Education, where I still teach for the British Antarctic Survey, ensuring all that go to the Antarctic are trained in Advanced First Aid.  I am an active Union Steward for the Royal College Of Nursing where I perform a variety of tasks to support our staff within the hospital.

Away from Nursing, my Achilles-heal is Rugby.  If you have a spare hour, spark up a conversation.

Tara Allin (Team Assistant)

Tara joined the team in March 2020. She has worked with vulnerable adults for the last 10 years. Utilising her administrative training and skills she has supported a gentleman with Autism to run his own business, worked in residential care homes in Plymouth and supported autistics adults at the local NAS group.

Tara has a passion for supporting marginalised and misunderstood people; whether this is due to cognitive disabilities or difficulties, undiagnosed conditions or subsequent mental health issues.

Contact the Team

• by Email: plh-tr.learningdisabilityhospitalteam@nhs.net
• by Telephone: 01752 431566
• via the Derriford Hospital Switchboard on 01752 202082, and ask for Pager 81506

Social Media 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DerrifordT/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DerrifordT