North East hospitals are introducing care bags for patients with a learning disability to reduce anxiety and distress in their urgent and emergency departments.
The initiative is designed for patients with a learning disability who attend the emergency department (ED) at The James Cook University Hospital and University Hospital of North Tees, who may find the environment stressful and overwhelming.
Each care bag contains a mix of comfort objects such as fidget items, noise-cancelling earphones, eye masks, sensory chew bracelets, colouring pencils, sensory items, visual aids, sensory-friendly items and information resources.
The initiative has also been extended to include patients who are admitted to wards.
According to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), patients with a learning disability are more likely to attend the ED and attend more frequently than the general population due to complex, co-occurring health conditions.
Since its introduction, the learning disability teams have received positive feedback from carers and patients at both hospitals.
Patients have shared how they have found the care bags helpful and useful, whilst carers have applauded how the care bags have supported patients during a difficult period for them.
The teams believe that the initiative has supported patient communication while also giving a better experience.
Moreover, it has also supported the hospital’s ED staff in providing care to patients with a learning disability or autism, to feel more relaxed and calmer in an often-stressful environment.
Specialist nurse learning disability Elizabeth Dixon said: “We know patients with a learning disability or autism struggle in our busy emergency department. Our goal is to improve their experience by offering a care bag when they access our emergency departments. As well as providing patients with useful resources to reduce the stress of being in a hospital environment, the care bags also contain information to empower the patient during their journey in our care.”
Gemma Crooks, nurse advisor adult safeguarding and learning disability, added:
Patients with learning disabilities often face much higher levels of anxiety during an unexpected hospital visit. By providing immediate comfort items like noise-cancelling earphones and sensory items, we are actively reducing that distress and making healthcare more accessible."
If any patient with a learning disability or a carer requires a care bag, please ask a staff member for further information.