Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: As healthcare professionals there is a legal responsibility to provide support and make reasonable adjustments for patients with additional needs, such as autism and learning disabilities.Mind, a health charity, defines reasonable adjustments as 'changes to prevent your disability putting you at a disadvantage compared with others who are not disabled', this ensures equal access to services [1].The Equality Act 2010 created a legal framework that reflects on accessibility to care for children and young people with additional needs [2].In response, NHS England developed a Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag on the NHS Spine, this allows health professionals to record and share reasonable adjustments an individual may need [3].Guidance released in 2019 by Public Health England under 'Oral Care and People with Learning Disabilities', stated the importance of being 'anticipatory' with reasonable adjustments [4].The Oliver McGowan mandatory training package was formulated to enable staff to understand autism from the perspective of the patient and how to make adjustments [5].The patient journey through the paediatric dental department at University College Hospital London (UCLH) begins with a telephone assessment followed by a face-to-face assessment.A detailed patient history taken at the telephone appointment should help identify patients who may need reasonable adjustments and the support required.
DOI: 10.1111/ipd.70008
Authors: Emma Weston, Suzanne Dunkley
Institutions: Eastman Dental Hospital, University College London
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4413959005