A new wristband scheme, which alerts medical staff to access vital information to help them care for people with learning disabilities, has been launched in Doncaster.
The brightly coloured silicon wristbands have been introduced by Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) to make it easy for the emergency services and staff on hospital wards to identify if the wearer has a Traffic Light Hospital Assessment (TLA), which provides all of the information to support them to have a positive hospital experience.
RDaSH acute liaison nurse, Glynis Smith, said: “The TLA is a simple four-page document that outlines the service user’s essential and important needs, and has proved to be a great success in Doncaster.
“Thanks to funding from Doncaster’s Learning Disability Development Fund, the wristbands are now available for people to wear, to remind them and health professionals who come into contact with them that they have a TLA.”
Launched by RDaSH in Doncaster in 2012, the TLA’s red rating is for things ward staff must know, such as GP and carer contact details, medical conditions, medication and allergies.
Amber is for important issues, such as how the person communicates and shares information, their eating and drinking preferences, as well as their need for help in moving around and taking medication.
Green is for likes, dislikes, hobbies and personal preferences.
