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Share ideas for making waiting rooms in hospitals and GP surgeries less onerous

Marianne72

Lately, I've spent a large amount of time in hospital and GP waiting rooms - this is to do with ageing also putting on weight. I ought to pay for a season ticket for my own chair Slight smile. The main difficulties I have with waiting are bustle, sounds, boredom, too many people I don't know, the waste of time. How could waiting rooms be made positive or useful? These are my ideas but please share yours - the more outlandish the better:

1. muscle stimulating devices attached to each chair, to 'exercise' arms and legs

2. community jigsaw puzzle for visitors to help complete

3. ditto knitting or crocheting squares for charity blankets 

4. a points system [like supermarkets] allowing you to upgrade waiting times, get a prize - pack of vitamin B or D, or hospital lottery ticket

Parents

  • I have tried advocating locally / regionally for more Neurodivergent-friendly hospital and GP waiting areas ...with very limited success.

    Now, I take the "DIY" do-it-yourself approach by having a bag packing list to better support my attending healthcare settings. 

    Each persons requirements / preferences will be unique, however, here are some of my standard considerations:

    PRINT and CHECK-OFF:
    (Pre-appointment packing list).
    - Healthcare Appointment
    - GP Practice / Hospital Outpatient
    - Packing List (using a dedicated task bag / backpack).
    00) Weeks Before An Appointment Tasks:
    (Self-Advocacy / Disclosure / Calendar):
    - Advance-email to the medical team re: Allergy, Mental / Physical Health key points, Neurodivergent reasonable adjustments and your National Autistic Society "My Health Passport" (the Hospital PALS Patient Advice and Liaison Service can help you send it to the correct medical team Secretary).
    - If you have a learning difference, or autism, your Hospital may have a learning disability liaison team available to support you when preparing to attend an Hospital appointment - ask PALS or look on your Hospitals website (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/learning-disabilities/going-into-hospital/).
    - Schedule in your calendar sending an awareness email update to anyone if supporting your transport /  accompanying you to the appointment.
    - Send email apologies re: any other calendar clashes where the medical appointment now needs to take priority over a regular prior engagement.
    01) Essential Tasks:
    (Done, At Least, By The Day Before An Appointment):
    - Check your balance availability on a contactless card if it is needed for paying to park the car / buy a bus or train ticket / purchase a drink or snack.
    - Minimum wallet / purse contents (some notes or coins).
    - Map pdf in a mobile folder (parking / buildings layout / bus route).
    - Timetable pdf in a mobile folder (bus or train).
    - Mobile (fully charged & sim credit topped up if pay-as-you-go ...to deal with any arrangement changes, or assistance required on the day).
    - Printed paper appointment letter (to hand to reception personnel/ clinical team).
    - If driving; check car fuel & driving glasses if worn. 
    02) Personal Paper Admin:
    (An A5 10 Pockets Display Book / An A5 Paper Notebook Are Useful - Prepared Before The Day Of The Appointment):
    - Current medications & supplements list.
    - Note of medications which previously gave you a bad side effect.
    - Appointment-related diagrams (the clinician could annotate for your future reference).
    - Known key health parameters (in case they ask do you know your ...last blood test results etc.  This is sometimes helpful if the IT systems between GP / Secondary Care / Hospital / Mental Health teams are fragmented, or you have used a Private Healthcare service for something).
    - Personal health / family history summary page (which a clinician can read rather than you have to remember and explain yourself when stressed).
    - Feedback pain / frustration scale chart (you can point at it if you are finding something difficult),
    - Body map diagram (to show the clinician where you mean you experience a problem).
    - A copy on your mobile of your Neurodivergent / Hospital reasonable adjustments passport (in case you need to refer to it).
    - A copy on your mobile of your National Autistic Society "My Health Passport" (in case you need to refer to it).
    - Name & phone number of the relative / friend / neighbour / taxi firm / patient transport service collecting me to take me home after the appointment (if I am not travelling by car / bus / train ...or, if the medic uses a medication during the appointment and only THEN says you cannot drive yourself home, or travel by public transport solo).
    03) General Admin:
    (e.g. A Large Pencil Case):
    - A Pen (to complete forms / take notes).
    - A Highlighter Pen (to mark important instructions / information a medic pointed out to you on a leaflet).
    - Reading glasses if required.
    - Pocket diary (if you don't use a calendar on your mobile).
    - Your minimum keyring (front door / car / RADAR disabled toilet access key if appropriate).
    - Autism Alert Card (who to contact if you require support).
    - Sunflower hidden disability lanyard (if you make use of one in healthcare settings).
    - Wrist watch (if you prefer one to checking a mobile).
    04) Hygiene & Comfort & Medication:
    (Small Zipped Toiletries Bag):
    - Antibacterial surface wipes.
    - Antibacterial hand gel.
    - Face mask.
    - Tissues / handkerchief.
    - Soap leaves (if you can react to some provided soaps).
    - Hair comb (a trying day can be reset a little, several times, by going to the bathroom and giving your hair a comb).
    - Small Microfibre Hand Towel (avoids scratchy paper towels / noisy hand blowers).
    - Lip balm (healthcare settings and anxious travel can be drying).
    - Hand cream (in a travel bottle, can be regulating for some people).
    - Travel toothbrush & travel toothpaste (another way to feel you have reset a trying day).
    - Something with a fragrance you find soothing (e.g. a cologne stick, fragrant skin refreshing tissues, a small tin of solid perfume, or a few drops of essential oil on a tissue).
    - A few small sour / mint sweets ...if your procedure instructions permit them (can help to quel anxiety).
    - Any current medication you require.
    05) Food & Drink:
    (Lunch Bag):
    - Tap water from home (take your refillable water bottle).
    - A small camping mug.
    - A small flask of coffee / tea ...if your procedure instructions permit it.
    - An easily portable snack / light lunch if your procedure instructions permit it (or for use on the journey home).
    - A spork.
    - A couple of pieces of kitchen roll and a small plastic zip lock bag for refuse.
    06) Neurodivergent Support:
    (A smaller bag inside your main bag):
    - Warm hat & gloves / sunhat or baseball cap & sunglasses (to both suit the season and your mode of transport, plus, to help shield you from bright overhead lights).
    - A folding paper hand fan (healthcare settings can be hot & stuffy).
    - A folding shopping tote (in case the medical team send you home with items you had not expected).
    - Folding foam sit mat (healthcare waiting room chairs can be very uncomfortable, plus, if the weather co-operates; it gives you the option of sitting outdoors somewhere for a bit of a break).
    - Ear plugs / ear buds / ear defenders / noise cancelling headphones to suit your need and preference.
    - A couple of entertainment / distraction / regulation techniques e.g. a sketchpad & pencil for doodling, a silent fidget toy of your choice, a puzzle or quiz book, a book to read, crochet / origami / knot a paracord bracelet or some other low-mess craft.
    - a photo which you find helpful as part of your mindfulness / grounding strategies.
  • in reply to DormouseAtRest_25

    Gosh, you are super organised. A lot of very useful ideas there! Thanks for taking the time to do this. 

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