Dr Amy Norrington talks about the changes James Cook Hospital has done to support autistic and neurodivergent young people facing operations.
In April 2023 the North East Autism Society presented a Gold Autism Acceptance Award to James Cook hospital’s children and young people’s perioperative, anaesthetic and surgical services.
The award is in recognition of a radical programme of initiatives designed to ease the anxieties of autistic and neurodivergent youngsters who need surgery.
The hospital is the first healthcare setting to receive the honour after NHS staff across a range of disciplines worked together to increase understanding of autism and implement improvements.