Please note, we are currently not taking any new applications
The About Me card is here to support you during your hospital visits. It lets staff know about things that might make you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or triggered during your appointment. By sharing what helps you feel safe and understood, the card helps your care team respond with kindness and compassion.
We’ve worked closely with the Patient Experience and Inclusion Team at Warrington & Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to make sure hospital staff know how to use the card and support you in the best way possible.
Purpose of the card
The About Me Card allows patients to share with professionals things that may trigger a “fight, flight, or freeze” response or make them scared or anxious when attending the hospital.
- Trauma
- Sexual assault
- Personality disorders
- Neurodiversity
- Anxiety
- Other lived experiences that may impact the patient’s emotional regulation
The card is intended to:
- Improve communication between patients and professionals
- Help staff make reasonable adjustments to support the patient’s well-being
- Reduce stress and anxiety during appointments
- Enhance overall appointment experiences
What can the card be used for?
The Awareness Card, developed by Healthwatch Warrington, is designed for residents with additional needs or who require extra support during visits to the Emergency Department (ED), Wards and appointments. This includes individuals who might experience triggers such as windowless rooms or questions that provoke a fight-or-flight response.
The card aims to inform healthcare professionals about these needs to ensure a more person-centred approach to care.
Other reasonable adjustments include:
- Chaperone/Same sex clinician on request
- No windowless room
- Sit next to a door
- Loud noises (limit)
- Interpretation required
- Time to process what is happening/information given
- Speak in a language I understand free from medical terms
- Include me and my carer in the conversation (don’t talk about me talk to me)
- Wait in adjacent area/outside area/in car
- Bright lights (reduce)
- Extend appointment time
- Honest conversation, wait time, process
About Me Card is universal and inclusive, allowing everyone to share information that, from my perspective, is crucial and should be known by the medical professionals caring for me.”
