Received from: SoR
Merged into composite C06
Hospitals can be stressful and intimidating places for anyone to visit or work. This can lead to poor communication which contributes to increased patient risk and inefficient treatment. These risks and costs are amplified for patients and staff with neuro-diversities.
There is growing research showing the cost and risks of not developing inclusive practices. There is also encouraging research showing how cost-effective and neuro-diversity sensitive changes can improve productivity and outcomes for all staff and patients. These include:
i. autism friendly waiting areas
ii. virtual department or hospital tours
iii. patient experience videos
iv. testing processes so they’re accessible
v. awareness training for whole teams.
Investing time to ensure clear communications about expectations, simplifying systems, and adopting inclusive spaces benefits all patients as well as those healthcare staff with neuro-diversities. Likewise, considering neuro-diverse needs in work design, training and development for students and staff also reduces burnout and stress and improves retention – supporting better productivity and outcomes for patients.
Congress therefore calls on the TUC to:
a. work with unions and relevant charities to champion inclusive practice as part of a safer and more productive NHS
b. develop focussed modules for health and safety reps to conduct audits for inclusive spaces, systems and practice
c. actively promote examples of good practice and how these benefit all service users and staff
d. support training for unions’ representatives in understanding and championing inclusive spaces, systems and practice across NHS and other public service settings.
Society of Radiographers
AMENDMENT
In bullet b., insert “and equality reps” after “health and safety reps”
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy