"A&E and Clinical decisions unit when you are autistic"

I had to go to hospital in an ambulance.

The paramedics were nice, they read my Hospital Passport. They were ok about my tourette's. They tried to find me a quiet part of A&E.

A nurse in A&E kept calling me the wrong name and trying to talk to me when she did my ECG. This is too much information at once. She go frustrated that I didn't talk. I don't talk in hospital. I don't think she knew about autism.

I had a lot of loud tics because I couldn't coordinate a drink and spilt it on me. They said I couldn't have my tics otherwise I would be on one to one. I took a lot of PRN so I didn't get in trouble.

DPM came but they didn't read my hospital passport. They wouldn't look at my AAC. They didn't give me a way to write answers. I couldn't answer their questions.

I went to LJU. LJU used to be good and know makaton and my communication. Now it is different. There is no privacy now. No food, no medications and no daily routine. My treatment took 24 hours on LJU. My friend brought me food and explained to staff about my communication.

They didn't know about makaton or AAC. They didn't say who they were all the time.

I took my own medication because it is dangerous to not take my medication. I took more PRN because it was noisy and the staff got frustrated with an old woman. I took too much PRN but I didn't want to get in trouble. There is no meds on LJU now and I have to take my meds.

Hospital should have food and water, medications and communicate with patients. Then it is safe. If a patient needs PRN they should have it before things get really bad. I didn't want to get really bad that is why I gave myself PRN.

The nurses told my friend they were worried about me but they hadn't communicated with me at all. Just because someone can't speak doesn't mean you shouldn't speak to them.

There is no autism specific help for patients at NUH without learning disabilities. That's a fact both me and my care coordinator have been through with LD liaison and DPM. There is only funding for support if your IQ is below 70.

I don't go to my outpatient department appointments in 3 clinics now because they don't understand me & the waiting rooms are too hard.

Autistic people should get help too. My LMHT care-coordinator has tried to speak to DPM and A&E since the department changed but they don't get back to her.

I was on LJU for over 24 hours but there is no medication or wash things or proper food there (I have allergies). I'm on staroids that I can't stop.

I want a plan for if I have to use hospital inpatient or outpatient again. I don't have a learning disability. I want to be safe and other patients to be safe.

No one was mean to me but they didn't understand and were frustrated.