BreakAway | My time | Out and about | Support Us | Treat Me Right!
Treat Me Right! - Elsa's Blog
May 09
"Having
begun work on the Treat Me Right Project at the end of last year, I am
delighted with the progress we’ve made so far. The project is designed
to improve patient care for people with learning disabilities at Ealing
hospital and we began in January with series of accessible consultation
sessions with local groups. One of the crucial messages to come out of
our discussions was that every individual with a learning disability is
very different, and a way was needed to communicate this to all the
hospital staff encountered by the patient while they were in hospital.
To deal with this issue we have developed
“About Me”
plans which have been hugely successful in improving people’s
hospital experience. The plans are short - just a few pages of A4 - and
they go everywhere with the patient. I work with the individual either
before they go into hospital, or when they arrive in hospital. The plans
contain all sorts of information which will help staff communicate more
effectively and should help the individual feel more comfortable. This
might be anything from how someone is able to move or speak to what
makes them stressed or the kind of food and drink they prefer.
The hospital has also been very supportive in helping us improve general communication. Simple things like translating the hospital Welcome Pack into “easy read” format has made a big impact and I am currently preparing a Learning Disabilities Communication Resource Folder which should be in every ward at the hospital by the end of June. There is still a lot to do but it’s great to feel we are starting to make a real difference."
If you have any comments or concerns on this issue please contact Elsa Grigg by email: elsa.grigg@supportforliving.org.uk