New Communication Toolkit to support patients with different communication needs

Teams at the Great Western hospital in Swindon now have access to a new Patient Communication Toolkit to improve the support they provide to patients with additional communication needs.

Created in collaboration with patients, as well as healthcare and communication professionals, it’s hoped the Patient Communication Toolkit will become a helpful resource for staff and be regularly used in patient areas.

A diverse collection of pictures and icons, covering a range of everyday topics allow patients to tell staff about themselves, how they are feeling and let staff know what they want and need.

It can be used to support any patient who has additional communication needs, including patients who have experienced a stroke or a brain injury, patients who are deaf or hard of hearing, patients with learning disabilities, autism, dementia or patients who do not speak fluent English.

Fe Murphy, Lead Speech and Language Therapist in Stroke, said, “It’s going to make a big difference to staff and patients.
“It gives us the resources we need to share information more effectively, ensure understanding and have better conversations, while giving patients the ability to communicate with more confidence.

“We know that some patients can experience loneliness and feel isolated, so I hope the toolkit also encourages more compassionate conversations.”

In addition to the new Patient Communication Toolkit, staff training is being developed to build awareness of different communication needs and how to support effective communication.

If you are a patient with communication needs, please do not hesitate to contact the team in the Patient, Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) before your appointment so that we can arrange the right support.