Spire Harpenden Hospital awarded national autism accreditation

• Spire Harpenden Hospital has been recognised nationally for its commitment to supporting autistic patients and people with learning disabilities.

Spire Harpenden Hospital has been awarded a prestigious Autism Accreditation by the National Autistic Society, the UK’s leading charity for autistic people, in addition to accreditation by Hertfordshire County Council. The accreditations have been issued in recognition of the hospital’s development and implementation of a bespoke ‘service of excellence’ for patients with learning disabilities.

The service and procedural changes have been led by Spire Harpenden Hospital’s Learning Disability Lead, Tess Harker RGN, supported by a dedicated Special Educational Needs committee, in addition to autism and learning disability champions across the hospital. Hospital colleagues receive specialised training to support patients with learning disabilities and initiatives include health passports identifying patients’ additional needs, ‘I am autistic’ cards, personalised care plans and quiet rooms. Neurodiversity boxes have been made available in the hospital, offering a variety of activities including small games, fidget toys, puzzles, magnifying glasses and ear defenders. Special provisions are also made for carers to ensure they can remain at the patients’ side throughout their visit, including during overnight stays.

Autism is a lifelong disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. At least one in 100 people are autistic, equating to more than 700,000 people in the UK alone. 

Tess Harker, Learning Disability Lead at Spire Harpenden Hospital said: “The team has worked tirelessly to ensure Spire Harpenden Hospital is a safe space for neurodiverse patients and their carers. Recognition from the National Autistic Society and Hertfordshire County Council demonstrates our dedication to establishing and maintaining best in class practices in the care of people with autism. This is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of Spire Healthcare’s commitment to making a positive difference to people’s lives through outstanding, personalised care.”

 Hilary Gardener, Primary Health and Lead for Health Equality Nursing and Purple Star Strategy at Hertfordshire County Council said: “The Purple Star Strategy team’s decision to award this accreditation to Spire Harpenden Hospital was unanimous. We were so impressed with the evidence of the hospital’s dedication and determination to overcome the health inequality barriers faced by people with a learning disability. It is truly a service with a passion for helping people with a learning disability.