Transforming the future for young people
with complex autism
Quarterly Newsletter
March 2021
Prior's Court News
Our new Health & Wellbeing Hub
has opened, following a successful
fundraising campaign which was
supported by a number of individuals,
local companies and charitable trusts
and foundations.
The project has involved transforming an existing
building on site into a new bespoke facility which will
positively impact the lifelong health and wellbeing of
the young people in our care.
A designated medical treatment room has been
designed to replicate external healthcare settings,
helping our young people to overcome anxieties and
become more comfortable in these environments.
This in turn means essential medical appointments
are more likely to be successful.
Our Director of Residential Care Services, Sarah
Butcher, said: "Accessing healthcare - such as an
appointment at the hospital, doctors or dentist -
can be a stressful experience for young people with
autism.
"Visiting an unfamiliar environment outside of
normal routine, crowded waiting rooms and
previous negative experiences can all contribute to
extreme anxiety. Even with significant planning and
preparation, attending medical appointments still
poses a significant challenge. As an example, up
to 50% of dental
appointments are
not successful due to
young people not being
comfortable in the dentist
chair.
"So the new treatment room
will be a huge help in ensuring
our young people can receive the
best possible healthcare while at
Prior's Court - and for the rest of their lives."
Additionally, a dedicated in-house pharmacy will
help to manage the high volume of medication and
treatments required to cater for complex health
needs. Our young people all have complex autism
and learning difficulties - as well as an average of
another four diagnosable conditions. This means
that even with input from a team of therapeutic
professionals, many still have a high requirement
for medication, with an average of four different
medications per Young person.
Two new therapy engagement rooms in the Hub
offer opportunities for observation by consultants,
meaning that young people have improved access
to on-site appointments.
Finally, a new shared workspace will enable the
nursing and therapy teams to work closely
together for an even more collaborative
approach to all aspects of the young people
they are supporting.
Head of Fundraising Karen White said:
"We're really grateful to everyone who
supported our appeal. Thanks to their
donations we can ensure the best possible
treatments for our young people so that they
can have healthier, happier and more independent
futures."
New hub to help transform health and
wellbeing of our young people