Study reveals patients with learning difficulties can become invisible in hospitals 10th January 2014 Report co-author Dr Irene Tuffrey-Wijne, a senior research fellow in nursing at Kingston University and St George’s, University of London, said people with learning disabilities were largely invisible within hospitals, which meant their additional needs were not recognised or understood by staff. “Our study found many examples of good practice, but also many where the safety of people with learning disabilities in hospitals was at risk,” she added.