Innovative care bags transform hospital experience for sensory needs patients
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH) is transforming the hospital experience for patients with sensory needs with its new, innovative care bag initiative.
Launched to support patients in the emergency department (ED) and admission units, this initiative is designed to offer comfort and reduce stress for people with autism and/or learning disabilities.
Patients with sensory needs often find the bustling and noisy environment of an ED overwhelming. Recognising this challenge, WUTH has introduced a special sensory care bag to enhance their hospital experience. These bags include items such as noise-cancelling earphones, an eye mask, a sensory chew bracelet, and a colouring book with pencils. Each bag also contains an easy-read patient information leaflet and a feedback form to gather insights for continuous improvement. Additionally, a health and wellbeing passport is included to provide staff with crucial information about the patient's needs, ensuring tailored care.
The sensory care bag initiative is the creation of Helen Newell, Named Nurse for Safeguarding Adults and the Trust’s Lead for Complex Care. Helen collaborated closely with Autism Together, Mencap, and Healthwatch Wirral to develop this idea. The initiative was launched during Learning Disability Week, with the new bags distributed to ED and other admission unit staff, ready to assist patients when needed.
Helen Newell said: “The feedback from staff has been wonderful. It's incredible how such a simple idea can have a hugely positive impact on someone's healthcare experience. It's rewarding to see the difference these items are starting to make.” The bags are especially useful for patients who arrive unexpectedly and do not have their own coping items.
Janelle Holmes, Chief Executive of WUTH, added: “As a Trust, we always encourage new ideas from staff to improve patient care. The sensory care bags are a perfect example. Patients with sensory needs can find environments like the ED overwhelming, and there's already evidence that these items are significantly helping.” Clinical staff have reported that the bags are reducing patient anxiety, positively impacting their ability to diagnose and treat patients with autism and/or learning disabilities.
This initiative also allows staff to document information about patients needing extra support from the complex care team during their hospital stay. Staff can flag digital health records for patients receiving a bag, ensuring additional measures are in place where needed.
WUTH continues to lead in reducing health inequalities and enhancing the care experience for the learning disabled and autism community. WUTH's commitment to addressing the needs of patients with learning disabilities and/or autism includes a customised sensory room in the surgical elective admissions lounge. This room offers a calm and safe environment for adult patients with autism and/or learning disabilities undergoing planned surgery. This initiative reached the finals of the HSJ Patient Safety Awards in 2023 and has inspired other NHS trusts to implement similar measures.
Photo:
Helen Newell, Named Nurse for Safeguarding Adults at WUTH (pictured centre) handing over a sensory care bag on the acute medical unit to Laura Bacur, Deputy Ward Manager (right) and Jacqueline Holmes, Registered Nurse (left).
Additional information:
Around 2.5% of the UK population has a learning disability.
In 2023, WUTH had over 250 attendances in ED or other admission units of patients known to have a learning disability or autism.
Photo caption:
Helen Newell, named nurse for safeguarding adults at WUTH (pictured centre) handing over a sensory care bag on the acute medical unit to Laura Bacur, deputy ward manager (right) and Jacqueline Holmes, registered nurse (left).