• Bolton NHS Foundation Trust marked Neurodiversity Celebration Week (17 – 23 March)
• Trust recognises that hospitals and healthcare settings can be challenging for those with neurodivergence
• Support in place for staff and patients to create a calmer working environment

On Neurodiversity Celebration Week (17 – 23 March), Bolton NHS Foundation Trust shined the spotlight on the support that has been implemented for staff and patients.

Around 1 in 7 people are neurodivergent, meaning they think, behave, process and interpret information differently to most people. Neurodivergence affects people of all ages, genders and cultures and is not linked to level of intelligence.

A number of initiatives have been rolled out to increase support for patients who are neurodivergent, thanks to funding from Our Bolton NHS Charity. These include:

• Noise-cancelling headphones to provide support in loud and busy environments.
• LED ceiling panels in Royal Bolton Hospital’s plaster room to create a calmer setting.
• A sensory wall to provide distraction and comfort to children attending appointments.

Hospitals and healthcare settings can also be a challenging place for a neurodivergent staff member to perform at their best.

This may be due to the design of the building and environment, the processes and systems that are used and sometimes the nature of the service. Despite that, neurodivergent staff can be valuable members of our workforce.

James Mawrey, Chief People Officer & Deputy Chief Executive at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said:

By getting to know how people think differently and understanding how a workplace might affect them, everyone can thrive. This means they will perform better and that our patient’s will receive better, safer care.

“Everyone’s brain works differently in the same way that everyone has a unique fingerprint. This is neurodiversity.

The Trust holds monthly Neurodiversity Support Groups, encompassing not only staff with neurodivergence but also those who work or live with neurodivergent individuals. The next session is set to focus on celebrating differences, with protected space for staff to talk freely and openly.

Jody Petersen, Lead Nurse at the Royal Bolton Hospital, has been instrumental in terms of supporting staff in understanding neurodiversity, said:

Our brains are as unique as a fingerprint and neurodiversity refers to a world in which the difference in our brains and ‘ways of being’ are respected as all other human variations. Depending on how our brains are wired; we think, move, process information and communicate in different ways.

“Individuals with a different way of thinking are considered neurodivergent. Examples of neurodivergent thinking styles are: Autism, ADHD, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, DLD, OCD, Tourette’s and other tic disorders.

Staff are also encouraged to use a neurodiversity toolkit, which explains the various conditions and guidance around reasonable adjustments that can be made to allow everyone to access the services at the Trust.