Health services for children and young people

Going to hospital is always stressful. If you and your young person have to go for an emergency visit, or for a routine appointment, there are some tips below to help make the visit less stressful:

Before Attending hospital (if not an emergency)

If you are going to Whipp’s Cross you can ask for help in preparing your child or young person by speaking to your health team before you come to hospital. 

If your child is over 18 years and known to the Adult Learning Disabilities team they can support to make sure your visit to hospitals is a good one. 

if your child is under 18 years you can ask the therapist working with your child at school for help. You can find contacts for the therapies on the health page

The hospitals have been working with the hospital specialist nursing teams to support the access for people with learning disabilities. You can read about how access arrangements on the Barts health website

At your hospital appointment, ask the team to flag your young person's record, to show they have a learning disability

Make sure you have:

• Your child’s last medical letter or report or something to show their name and address. You can show that to any professional looking up your child’s notes, while you concentrate on your child!
• Water and a snack
• Comfortable clothes and a blanket/warm clothing. The air conditioning can be cold and the chairs hard to sit on
• A change of clothes for your child 
• Extra medication in case you need to take it while waiting
• Your phone so you can tell people where you are
• Something for your child to do/a comforter. If they can be distracted, an iPad or ear defenders might help

Let any security guard or door manager know that you are waiting. Tell them that you have a child with special needs who cannot wait, or may find busy waiting areas difficult. If you are a member of the Waltham Forest Parent Forum, you can ask for an SEND alert card. These are cards that state your child's needs and who to contact in an emergency. You can show these to the security guard

Give the reception staff a copy of  your child’s letter, and your reason for attending. This will help them understand more about your child’s needs when they are well

Health Passports (WORD) that can be used by young people or adults with SEND and disabilities. This is to help others understand their needs, and make reasonable adjustments for your child or young person. You can give the health passport to the nurse or doctor. 

It is a good idea to give it to a nurse before an intervention e.g. such as before your child is weighed or has their blood pressure taken.

Remember to give an up to date copy to your GP if you are using a health passport.

Health passports can get lost in hospital, so it's a good idea to have more than one copy. If you have access to a computer, it is good to keep the passport online so that it can be more easily updated.

The Bart’s Hospital team at Whipps Cross have done a lot of work on the reasonable adjustments needed for children and young people with special needs and disabilities. You can expect the following adjustments which are often unique to the individual, but these are some that are common to most:

Communication 

Staff should use short sentences, simple language and pictures to help make themselves understood, and recheck the person is understanding e.g. “tell me what I have just said so I know I have explained it properly” 

Ask for some more time to explain and make sure that the person has understood

Ask for Easy Read information on investigations where possible such as x rays and scans

Challenging behaviour/Mental Health/Psychological and Emotional Needs 

The doctors and nursing team will ask your views on how best to help. They may say your child needs more observation and ‘checks ins’ with staff. If your child is becoming anxious, and cannot cope with waiting, ask if they can be seen sooner to ensure safety. 

If bloods are needed, ask the team to use topical anaesthesia before taking blood

You can ask the team to contact the Adult Learning Disabilities Team for more advice or your local therapy teams

Discuss the support you can offer with the doctor and nursing team. Let the team know if you have paid carers for your child who might normally be with them and ask if they can help. They will not be able to be left with your child, but can come with you. That might help with care and support when 2 people are needed for a young person. 

There are Sleeper Chairs for overnight stays at many of the hospitals if you need to stay overnight.

If your child is 16 or over they have a right to be included in decision making about their care and have their views heard. If they are not able to make a decision independently about a course of action, then decisions may need to be made in their best interests. This is discussed with those who care for them as part of a mental capacity assessment

If you are staying in hospital a long time, ask to meet the play therapist. They may be able to spend time with your child, to distract them during their stay.  If your child is in hospital longer than 15 days, then the hospital or your child’s school may provide some education

If you have a concern or worry about your stay that you cannot resolve with the doctors or nursing team, you can contact the patient advice and liaison service by phone:

The Royal London and Mile End Hospital: 020 3594 2040

Newham and St Bartholomew’s Hospital: 020 7363 9292

Whipps Cross Hospital: 020 7535 6438

Or email pals@bartshealth.nhs.uk

Going to hospital and having a test can be frightening for a person with a learning disability. People can find it easier to go to hospital and take tests if they know what is going to happen and why. The links below are resources that may help.  Some of the resources are social stories and some are videos. 

To help prepare your child or young person for health procedures you can use social stories  to reassure them about the health checks that may be carried out

The Waltham Forest Parents Forum, young people and staff from Whipps Cross have made social stories about going to hospital for tests so that you know what to expect. You can read their story about going to have an MRI:

Social story - Going to Whipps Cross for an MRI

YouTube video about MRI's, the noise is loud in the video so you may want to listen to it first before playing it to your child or young person