The Autism team have been working with the local A and E departments, 111 service and the commissioners to enable access to some pre-bookable appointments in A and E. We have also sent out a co-produced training pack to A and E departments to enhance staffs knowledge about reasonable adjustments and have made each trust aware of the reasonable adjustment checklist.

There are some pre-bookable A and E appointments each day for neurodivergent children and young people, bookable through 111 for injuries that would classify as minor injuries, in all A and E departments across Wirral and Cheshire (eg Countess of Chester, Leighton, Macclesfield and Arrowe Park hospitals). The time given is for an arrival time rather than the actual time you will be seen, as people are triaged and prioritised on clinical need, but a pre-bookable time will mean some of the waiting can be done at home. Due to the nature of major injuries, people with these would usually need to go directly to A and E to be assessed, however there are some pre-bookable appointments available too in terms of an arrival time.

A minor Injury is: an Injury less than 3 days old that is minor in nature, for example an injury to the arm or leg, eg cuts, lacerations, sprains, strains, and is not a fall from height or a dangerous mechanism (eg high speed collision). 

A major injury is : any illness type presentation, eg fever, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, headache etc. For majors, people usually need to wait on site in case of a sudden deterioration but in most circumstances any waiting can be done somewhere outside nearby, eg in a vehicle onsite. Please ask reception staff if this can be agreed by the nursing team as part of reasonable adjustments, and agree how the nursing/medical team will contact you.

Please bring any documentation of reasonable adjustments needed, (eg reasonable adjustment checklist or a hospital or health passport, or a one page profile or an all about me booklet, whatever you have) to advise staff of your needs. A Reasonable Adjustments Checkilist is available to download and complete below.