The Power of Care or Hospital Passports

It’s always more powerful hearing individual’s stories of what works and what doesn’t for their care or support needs.

Chairperson Leanne shared her own experience of having a Care or Hospital Passport, invited by Liz Williams to present at the January Learning Disabilities Health Inequalities Board meeting.

The importance of making decisions for how information is stored and accessed is individual and as such must be recognised. As long as everything is kept updated, regularly reviewed and is in whatever format individuals ask for.

The details in this passport enable people with differing communication needs, learning disabilities or other support requirements, to have all the important information about them to hand in one document.

“It makes me less anxious all the things are there so I don’t have to remember, if I’m not well out of hours when my staff aren’t there, I can show my hospital passport it’s easier. I chose to have mine on Sekoia, I like it there” said Leanne

On Sekoia, a Care Management System, it is a live document so changes are instantly updated. If people request a printed version they are reviewed at regular intervals so no updates are missed.

An important step in managing situations where admissions are either in an emergency or medical intervention is needed and the person is perhaps a non verbal communicator, too confused or anxious to speak.

There is also a version called My Health Passport available from autism.org.uk as a download in another format chosen by people with Autism.

So important to hear from those the processes are benefitting, and to learn from their personal scenarios what can be improved. Well done to Leanne.