Introducing Visual Support Resources on our Paediatric Wards

Monday 16th June 2025

In celebration of Learning Disability Week (16th–22nd June), we’re excited to launch a new pack of visual support tools - designed to enhance the hospital experience for children and young people with additional needs.

Parents can now create a visual timetable in rooms to support their child or young person to understand the daily routine on the ward, or to use to communicate the 'Now' and 'Next.' Packs are available in all areas of the paediatric ward and in the children's assessment unit in Grange University Hospital (GUH).

Nursing staff and parents can choose between Widget symbols or real-life photographs, ensuring the visuals are as informative and effective as possible. There was a mixed response from the young people attending the Sparkle Youth forum (Sparkle, helping special children shine) to which option was preferable, so both are now available. We hope to expand the choice further to offer Makaton symbols in due course.

In addition, we’ve developed visual guides to explain common procedures such as radiology scans and blood tests, and to help young people communicate in their post-operative care.

We hope these resources will make a meaningful difference in supporting our young patients and their families.

Finally, we’d like to showcase the use of the Public Health Wales 'Health Profile' for parents to complete at home, and use when taking children and young people to the dentist, optician, ED, outpatient appointments or if admitted.

Please find the Health Profile in the QR code below.