Health

My Health Passport

‘My Health Passport’ is a resource designed to support autistic people when accessing healthcare, including hospital treatment.

It helps individuals communicate their needs, preferences, and important information to doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.

The passport was developed by the National Autistic Society, in collaboration with Baroness Angela Browning (Vice President of the National Autistic Society), and has been updated based on feedback from autistic people and professionals.

How the Passport Helps

The passport can support healthcare professionals to better understand an individual’s needs, helping to improve care and communication during medical appointments or hospital stays.

It can include information about:

Communication preferences
Sensory needs
Health information
Things that may cause anxiety or distress
Helpful strategies to support care

Using the Passport

The passport can be:

Completed online and printed
Printed and completed by hand

Once completed, it should be:

Kept together as a booklet or in a folder
Brought to all hospital or healthcare appointments
Shared with healthcare staff when receiving treatment

If a hospital stay is required, the passport should be given to the healthcare team and kept with the person’s medical notes.

It may also be helpful to keep a spare copy for personal records.

Further Information

Before completing the passport, guidance is available to support how it is used effectively.

The passport is endorsed by the Department of Health and supported by NHS England as part of improving healthcare experiences for autistic people.

For access to the passport and guidance, visit the National Autistic Society website.

The Children's Speech and Language Therapy service

is part of Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. The service works alongside Children’s Physiotherapy and Children’s Occupational Therapy (OT) as part of the Children’s Therapy Team.

The service supports children and young people with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN), helping them to develop skills and reach their potential. Advice and guidance is also provided to families and professionals working with children.

How the Service Supports

Speech and Language Therapists assess and support children with a wide range of needs, including:

Delayed or disordered language development
Speech sound difficulties
Stammering
Voice disorders
Social communication differences, including autism
Severe learning difficulties
Physical disabilities (for example, cerebral palsy)
Hearing impairment
Maxillofacial conditions (such as cleft palate)
Eating, drinking, and feeding difficulties
Communication needs following a head injury

The team works with children, families, and settings to develop strategies that support communication, understanding, and participation in everyday life.

Where Support Is Provided

Speech and Language Therapy may take place in a range of settings across the Wakefield district, including:

Children’s Centres at Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospitals
Health centres
Local authority children’s centres
Special schools
Nurseries and mainstream schools
The child’s home, where appropriate
Through commissioned school-based work

Drop-In Support

If there are concerns about a child’s communication development, families are encouraged to attend a “Walk in for Talking” drop-in session.

These sessions provide an opportunity to:

Receive advice and guidance
Discuss concerns with a therapist
Explore whether further assessment or support may be needed

Contact Information

For advice or support, the Children’s Speech and Language Therapy team can be contacted on:

Telephone: 01977 465417

Further Information

Additional information about the service, including a downloadable leaflet, is available through Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

More details can also be found on the Mid Yorkshire NHS website.

You can also download a general leaflet about our service below.

Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service Leaflet - The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Find out more about the Children's Speech and Language Service on the MidYorks NHS website.