Caring for children with autism spectrum condition in paediatric emergency departments
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence & Practice    

Caring for children with autism spectrum condition in paediatric emergency departments

Ben Richards Senior staff nurse, King's College Hospital, paediatric emergency department, London, England

The needs of children with autism spectrum condition (ASC) in paediatric emergency departments (EDs) can often be overlooked. EDs are high-stress environments for children with ASC, which can result in meltdowns, making the diagnostic process challenging. There should be provision for children with ASC, who can have sensory, behavioural and communication needs, in the same way that analgesia is provided for children in pain. This article promotes a multi-strategy approach to making reasonable adjustments to help meet the needs of these children and provide them with a positive hospital experience.

Emergency Nurse. doi: 10.7748/en.2017.e1713

Correspondence

ben.richards1@nhs.net

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

Received: 17 March 2017

Accepted: 15 May 2017

Published online: 30 June 2017

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