A Personalised Path to Better Health: The STOMP Clinic Explained
Authors: Therese Ellis , Alex Kett , Rhianna Mobile , Thomas Trang and Makubuya Waigo
STOMP (Stopping Over-Medication of People with a Learning Disability and Autistic People) has been a key component of NHS England’s initiative to reduce the unnecessary use of psychotropic medications. Research shows that individuals with a learning disability are 16 times more likely, and those with autism 7 times more likely, to be prescribed antipsychotic medication compared to the general population. These medications can have significant side effects, including sedation, weight gain, increased risk of diabetes, hormonal changes, and sexual dysfunction—all of which can negatively affect quality of life.
What is the STOMP Clinic?
The STOMP clinic was developed to help bridge this gap over an 18-month period by offering a structured, primary care-based pathway. The STOMP clinic helps ensure individuals receive the right medication at the right time for the appropriate duration through regular reviews and personalised treatment adjustments. It also focuses on improving quality of life and reducing health inequalities by addressing barriers to care, such as communication challenges and anxiety around clinical appointments.
The clinic uses a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together learning disability nurses, pharmacists, and behaviour practitioners who specialise in LDA care. This team works collaboratively to review the use of psychotropic medication, especially when prescribed in the absence of a diagnosed mental illness, and to explore non-pharmacological strategies to address behavioural concerns.
Recognising that anxiety can often be a barrier to accessing GP services for both service users and their caregivers, STOMP clinicians offer reasonable adjustments—such as home visits—to improve engagement and comfort. The team works closely with GPs across Southeast London (SEL) to identify eligible individuals and co-develop personalised medication reduction plans. Throughout this process, they provide ongoing support and liaise with specialist community teams, including mental health learning disability services from South London and Maudsley ( SLaM ) and Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust.
Our Holistic Approach
The STOMP clinic focuses on more than just medication. We take a holistic and person-centred approach when assessing our service users and planning interventions, ensuring reasonable adjustments are made to meet their needs appropriately. We work closely with the GP and other key stakeholders around the individual to ensure they are optimised in all parts of their life. There is a focus on not only mental well-being and medication side effects, but also physical health, safeguarding and other quality of life factors, such as; relationships, independence and community engagement. We work to coordinate joined up working with the team around the individual so they can get everything they need to live a full and healthy life. We work hard to ensure the voice of the service user is heard and everybody is working in the individual’s best interests. Service Users will be regularly discussed in MDT meetings within the STOMP clinic; the team consists of nurses, pharmacists and behaviour and wellbeing practitioners with extensive experience working with people with learning disabilities.
Who is the STOMP Clinic for?
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Adults with a learning disability
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Who are also on psychotropic medication
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And are not under any secondary mental health teams.
What You Can Expect
Anyone from carers, GPs or social workers can refer somebody to the STOMP team if they meet the above criteria.
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A member of the team will be in contact with you to introduce the STOMP clinic and what we can do for you.
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Assessments will be completed that take a “top-to-toe” approach targeting all areas of your life.
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If we think further assessments are needed, we will also complete them; these can be assessments such as the Behaviour Problems Inventory (BPI-S), Bristol Stool Chart, Glasgow Side-effect Scale (GASS ) and many others.
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We will then use these assessments to identify where extra support is required in your life.
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Individualised recommendations based on our extensive assessments will be made to key stakeholders involved in your care; including interventions such as medication optimisation, behaviour support and onward referrals.
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A personalised regime for medication optimisation will be made and implemented with your STOMP clinician’s oversight.
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You STOMP clinician will continuously check-in with yourself and key stakeholders involved in your care to ensure you remain well, recommendations about your care are implemented, and your quality of life is at its optimum .
About the authors
Therese Ellis – Support and Coordination Specialist for the STOMP team. Therese works closely with GPs and service users to provide administrative support and help improve wellbeing.
Alex Kett – Senior Nurse Specialist in Learning Disabilities, Autism and STOMP. Dual-trained as a Nurse and Social Worker, Alex focuses on Positive Behaviour Support and person-centred care.
Rhianna Mobile – Lead Behaviour & Wellbeing Practitioner with 8 years’ experience in Learning Disabilities and Behaviour Support. Rhianna is passionate about Positive Behaviour Support as an alternative to over-medication and training others in PBS strategies.
Thomas Trang – Specialist Prescribing Advisor in Learning Disability and Autism at South East London ICB and Lead Clinical Pharmacist in primary care. Trang is an independent prescriber with expertise in medicines optimisation, commissioning, and service innovation.
Makubuya Waigo – Learning Disability Nurse with extensive experience across forensic, community and continuing healthcare. Makubuya is committed to person-centred, holistic care and passionate about the STOMP agenda.
Get in Touch
For further details please contact the STOMP Team: Stomp@selondonics.nhs.uk
