Supporting people with autism in hospital: what’s changing on one ward
When people talk to us about hospital care across the county, especially if they are living with mental health, have a long-term health condition, are autistic or have sensory needs, we often hear that it does not always work in the way it should.
People have shared experiences of feeling overwhelmed, not knowing what to expect, or only being supported once things have already become difficult. These experiences come from a range of services, not just this ward.
This is captured in our recent report, Making health appointments work for everyone.
But the good news is that the NHS is acting on what we hear from people.
Changes on one hospital ward are helping people feel calmer, safer and more understood, by making sure their needs are recognised and acted on from the start, not once things begin to go wrong.
What’s changing on the ward
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, who supports people living with mental health, has taken a different approach on one of its inpatient wards.
Instead of waiting for problems to arise, staff ask people about their needs as part of coming onto the ward.
This is an example of reasonable adjustments being made. They are small, practical changes to care that help people access services safely and comfortably, and under the law, health services are expected to make them where needed.
Before, many needs were only picked up once someone was already distressed. But now that information is gathered at admission, so support can be put in place earlier and more consistently.
To do this, staff ask about things like:
- sensitivity to noise, lighting or busy spaces
- how someone prefers to communicate
- what helps them feel calm or safe
- how they manage changes to routine
These are not complicated questions. But they mean staff are not guessing later or trying to respond when someone is already struggling or things have worsened for them.
What difference this is making
This shift is helping to prevent distress, not just respond to it.
People are more likely to feel:
- calmer during their stay
- clearer about what is happening
- more confident that staff understand them
For staff, it makes it easier to respond in a way that works for the individual, rather than relying on trial and error.
Staff have been supported by their autism team, alongside named staff who can offer guidance day to day. Over time, this has helped build confidence so that these conversations become part of everyday care, not something extra.
From what people tell us, that confidence and understanding from staff can shape the whole experience. Feeling listened to and taken seriously often matters just as much as the practical changes themselves.
Why this matters
This example shows what can happen when people’s needs are understood and acted on from the start, rather than later when things have already become difficult.
For patients, it can mean feeling calmer, clearer about what is happening, and more able to cope with being in hospital.
For staff, it creates a more consistent way of working, with fewer situations escalating or needing to be managed in the moment.
It also shows that improving care is not always about large changes, but about getting the basics right early and doing them consistently.
This article is based on information shared by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust about how they are improving support for people who need reasonable adjustments.
