Over 100 people with learning disabilities were able to speak directly to senior staff from the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Chief executive John Comber, Councillor David Gardner, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, and the Director of Health and Adult Services were among those on the panel at the free event held in partnership with Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust.

Topics discussed included health and social care, keeping safe, housing and the day opportunities service.

Members of the Greenwich Learning Disability People's Parliament and volunteers from Research Net were among those who attended, along with carers and families of people with learning disabilities.

The event aimed to improve the service that people receive by finding out what is working well and what improvements could be made.

The next step will be to send out a questionnaire to people with learning disabilities who were unable to come along to the event so that they can have their say before another event is held to discuss how feedback will be put into practice.

'Offer the best quality care and support'

Councillor David Gardner, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: "I am delighted that so many people with learning disabilities and their families and carers took the time to be a part of our first 'Have Your Say' day.

"By having regular open discussions with our service users we can ensure that we offer the best quality care and support - it is important that our services are, as far as possible, shaped and informed by users."

Residents' views

Donna Ferguson, 51, from Charlton, said: "It was a brilliant day and a chance to air our views."

Mark Bugg, 35, a learning disability MP for Moving On from Blackheath, said: "It was good to be able to talk to the big bosses and help make things better."

Support worker Felicia Udogu - who attended with one of her clients, Raymond Begle - added: "It is important to come."