Making our hospitals inclusive for disabled staff

The Disabled Staff Network launched in 2020, with a vision for Leeds Teaching Hospitals to be recognised as an employer of choice for disabled people who are both welcomed and supported to reach their full potential.

The network is a friendly and welcoming group, and includes staff working in both clinical and non-clinical roles. They hold regular meetings where disabled employees can share their thoughts and experiences about the adjustments that the Trust needs to make, offer a shared understanding about the key priorities for change, and provide a forum for discussion that enables participants to feel valued as employees. Khushbukht Sajid, Co-Chair of the LTHT Disabled Staff Network said: “We formed the network to empower and work collaboratively to support all disabled members of staff in the Trust regardless of their disability. We know that there is lots more work to do and we would love to hear from anyone interested in helping us build on everything we’ve done so far.” Luke White, Senior Project Nurse & Co-Chair of the LTHT Disabled Staff Network said: “This group matters on a personal level as I am profoundly deaf in both ears and I wear hearing aids and rely on lip reading to communicate with others. I am very passionate about supporting others with disabilities around the Trust and I’d encourage everyone to join the network as we know that together we can all make a difference to improve the experiences of disabled members of staff.” For this year’s International Day of People with Disability (IDPWD), the network created a video that was shared Trustwide to reflect the views and perspectives of staff working at LTHT with a disability. It is available to watch on the network’s intranet page. To join the network, please email leedsth-tr.disabledstaffnetwork@nhs.net

Khush Sajid

Luke White

Clear face masks help improve communication between staff and patients

Staff at Leeds Teaching Hospitals are pleased to be using new, clear Mio Masks, to support communication with patients. Many patients rely on facial expressions or lip reading, to help them to understand what a clinician is saying. Others take reassurance from being able to see a smile and feel that the masks bring a touch of normality through the challenges of the pandemic. The feedback from both staff and patients who have benefited from the clear masks has been very positive.

Alison Conyers, Lead Professional - Learning Disabilities and Autism, said: “We are so pleased that our new face masks have arrived. These will really help anyone who relies on seeing our facial expressions or needs to lip read in our hospitals.” Tania, a Get Me Better Champion at the Trust, said: ‘’I find them helpful, they allow you to see expressions and help you understand what people

Alison Conyers

are saying. I feel comfortable seeing the other person’s face, I would recommend them.’’ Patient feedback has also been good, with patient Charlotte saying: “The new see-through masks are so much better than normal masks. When LTHT staff came to visit me, it was automatically much less awkward being able to see their faces. I lip-read so it was nice to be able to read their lips to help me understand what they were saying and also to see if they were smiling.” She added: “I would prefer it if everyone had these masks on, even if initially it was just my nurse for the day and people coming in for a consultation with me as I don’t know what most of the people look like. I can’t understand them and it’s often taking four people to explain the same thing in different ways. With masks everyone looks the same, very clinical, but if I could see their faces and smiling etc I know their different and I could follow conversation easier.”