First reported 30 Mar 2026•Latest report 27 May 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures in healthcare assessment, care or treatment processes to recognise neurodivergent communication needs and adapt communication, information presentation, questioning, prompts or interpretation so that clinically important information, agreement and care requirements are accurately elicited and understood.
Not included
Excludes generic communication, staff-training or documentation deficiencies where neurodivergence is not a material part of the asserted unsafe condition.
Excludes failures in diagnosis, treatment, service access or care coordination where adapted healthcare communication is not the deficient control.
Excludes general family support or information provision unrelated to communicating with or interpreting information from neurodivergent patients or parents.
Excludes autism-specific placement, mental-health treatment or reasonable-adjustment concerns where communication adaptation is not the shared unsafe condition.
Reports
2
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
6
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2026–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
12
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust1
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust1
NHS England1
Royal College of General Practitioners1
NHS trust2
Executive non-departmental public body1
Health professional body1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Essex
Concerns raised2
Failure to adapt communication and information presentation to neurodivergent patients
Lack of staff training in autism and communication with neurodivergent people with learning disabilities
This report raised 17 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Maintain inpatient operating-model guidance on reasonable adjustments and support for adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults.
Stated by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 13 August 2026.
Action
Provide sensory rooms and individual sensory boxes across Linden and Crystal Centres for patients requiring neurodiversity-related adjustments.
Stated by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 13 August 2026.
Action
Provide neurodiversity-specific care plans with MDT involvement and access to Psychology and the Trust autism specialist.
Stated by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 13 August 2026.
Action
Require all staff to complete national mandatory Oliver McGowan training.
Stated by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 13 August 2026.
Action
Deliver inpatient autism training developed from the National Autism Training Programme framework.
Stated by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 13 August 2026.
Warwickshire
Concerns raised4
Lack of practical mechanisms for communicating with neurodivergent parents
Lack of structured local support for interpreting neurodivergent parental communication
Lack of practical mechanisms for adapting assessment of neurodivergent children
Lack of structured local prompts for recognising neurodivergent symptom expression
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.7
Action
Run monthly multidisciplinary simulation sessions covering paediatric abdominal pain, neurodivergence, communication and escalation.
Stated by George Eliot Hospital NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 June 2026.
Action
Develop and deliver a communications campaign promoting Hospital Passports and “All About Me” tools.
Stated by George Eliot Hospital NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 June 2026.
Action
Establish neurodivergent champion roles across GEH and SWFT with a dedicated training programme.
Stated by George Eliot Hospital NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 June 2026.
Action
Amend the paediatric casualty card to record children’s communication, sensory or behavioural needs.
Stated by George Eliot Hospital NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 June 2026.
Action
Provide specialist Play Specialist support to improve communication and reduce anxiety for neurodivergent children.
Stated by George Eliot Hospital NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 June 2026.
Action
Implement the FLACC behavioural pain assessment tool within the Clinical Assessment Unit.
Stated by George Eliot Hospital NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 June 2026.
Action
Implement the approved formal escalation pathway and supporting materials for neurodivergent patients.
Stated by George Eliot Hospital NHS TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 25 June 2026.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Practical mechanisms in GIRFT guidance fall outside the Trust’s direct remit; the Trust will comply with any enhanced guidance GIRFT issues.
Stated by George Eliot Hospital NHS TrustOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
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Includes failures in healthcare assessment, care or treatment processes to recognise neurodivergent communication needs and adapt communication, information presentation, questioning, prompts or interpretation so that clinically important information, agreement and care requirements are accurately elicited and understood.
