This initial phase of the study was conducted between January and June 2016 and involved 24 NHS hospitals in England.

Interviews were conducted with senior managers to see what, if anything, is different about the way hospital services are organised to meet the needs of children and young people with learning disability compared to other patients. A staff questionnaire open to all hospital staff who have contact with children and young people was used to understand how equipped staff feel they are to identify and meet the needs of children and young people with and without a learning disability.

Additionally, the participating hospitals were asked to provide a number of policy documents for us to review and see whether learning disability was included or recognised within hospital policies.