Nurses shortlisted for national award

Learning Disability Nurses at Medway Maritime Hospital have been shortlisted for a Nursing Times Award 2024 for introducing a ‘one stop shop’ service for patients with learning disabilities and autism who require medical procedures under a general anaesthetic.

The Learning Disability Nurses and the hospital’s former Anaesthetics Lead Sarah Hare came together to launch the pathway which allows patients to have a combination of important treatments such as blood tests and vaccinations (for patients with severe needle phobia), dental and podiatry work, and endoscopies or colonoscopies, carried out while sedated following a best interest decision. Usually these procedures are completed while a patient is awake, but for people with learning disabilities and autism they can be traumatic and overwhelming without a general anaesthetic.

During their time in hospital while under general anaesthetic for a medical treatment, patients are cared for by specialist multi-disciplinary teams from Medway NHS Foundation Trust and Medway Community Healthcare (MCH) who work to ensure that all ‘reasonable adjustments’ are made to facilitate a safe and patient-centred experience. Under the Equality Act 2010, public sector organisations like NHS trusts must make ‘reasonable adjustments’ or changes, in their approach or provision to ensure that services are accessible to disabled people as well as everybody else.

One of the first patients to trial the service, which is known as the VIP pathway, when it launched in September 2022 was 28-year-old Jack Wood, from Gravesend, who has severe autism and a communication disorder which leaves him verbally limited.

Jack’s mother, Rachel Wood said: “Initially Jack was referred to hospital by the community learning disability team, as he needed some urgent dental and foot treatments which could only be done under general anaesthetic. Best interest meetings were held and a plan of action was put in place which detailed everything down to the finest point.

“While he was sedated they even managed to arrange for Jack to have a haircut and beard trim, something we hadn’t managed to do in a long time because of the sensory challenges associated with autism and cutting hair.

“Everyone involved with my son’s care were truly amazing and they kept me updated regularly from start to finish. They went absolutely above and beyond for Jack and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. The best thing about it was they listened to and acted upon Jack’s needs – it makes such a big difference.”

Jayne Black, Chief Executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust, which operates the Gillingham-based hospital, said: “It’s fantastic that this work has been recognised.

“I’m incredibly proud of all colleagues who came together to launch this initiative. By having more access to these important treatments, it ensures patients have a better quality of life and improved outcomes. It also makes a huge difference to the experience of patients with learning disabilities and autism.

“I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for the Learning Disability Nurses when the winners are announced for the Learning Disabilities Nursing category at a special ceremony on Wednesday 23 October.”