Although the NHS Accessible Information Standard is not autism-specific, it lays out the expected basic standards for accessibility in the English NHS. Important considerations include:

• Accessible health care environments: Ensuring that health care facilities are accessible and inclusive, with clear signage, quiet areas and sensory-friendly waiting rooms.
• Culturally sensitive care: Providing culturally sensitive care that acknowledges and respects the unique needs and experiences of individuals with neurodiversity.
• Clear communication and explanations: Using clear and simple language, avoiding jargon and providing visual aids to help patients understand their condition and treatment plan.
• Assistive technologies: Using assistive technologies, such as communication aids or sensory tools, to support patients' needs.
• Support for caregivers: Offering support and resources for caregivers of patients with neurodiversity.
• Documentation: Once reasonable adjustments are agreed with the patient, these should be documented on their record with an alert for future clinicians to enable them to prepare for consultants.
• Health passport: These can be used to list communication preferences and highlight areas that could potentially cause distress.

When developing and improving services it is important to consider how accessible they are. For example:

• Health information: Is there clear, accessible information about health education, specific conditions, and when/how to seek help — including links from the hospital website?
• Booking options: Can people make or change appointments in different ways (e.g. telephone, video, mail, email, text)? Relying only on phone calls can be a major barrier for autistic people.
• Clinic details: Is there information about how to find the clinic, what to expect during the visit, and whether someone can or should come with them? Are there options if no one is available to attend or support?
• Waiting areas: Are there alternative, quieter spaces available for people to wait away from busy waiting rooms?
• Appointment flexibility: Is there room in the schedule to allow longer or more flexible appointment times for autistic patients?
• Booking instructions: Are there clear, step-by-step instructions on how to book or check in for appointments?

This is a term used to describe living with more than three incurable health conditions. Multimorbidity is also used to describe this situation. It is not clearly understood why one person may develop these conditions sooner than another, Research has found that people living in deprivation have a higher risk of developing these conditions than people living in affluent areas.

Deprivation is the result of lacking income and other essential resources and is often understood as living in poverty. This lack of basic necessities can have serious consequences for a person's health and their ability to thrive. In clinical settings, multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) often need to work together to support each individual and address the wide-ranging impact of deprivation.

Multidisciplinary and multi-agency working means bringing together knowledge, skills, and best practice from different professions and services. It involves working across organisational boundaries to better understand the person’s needs, rethink how care is delivered, and find shared solutions that offer the best support.

In 2022, WHO recommended that teamwork and collaboration in multi-professional teams is a major skill-mix change and is key for organising and coordinating health and care services. It must be focused on the person, examining their priorities in order to identify realistic achievable outcomes.

Team-based planning in neurodiverse care

For a person living with a neurodiverse condition such as autism, sensory overload can be a huge barrier in the clinical setting. For example, crowded waiting rooms or too many people/services in one room may cause distress. This is why the importance of MDTs must be analysed in these circumstances and adaptations tailored depending on the clinic. This will ensure that the right people are in the right place at the right time.

The aim should be to prevent the person from feeling overwhelmed by too many people or excessive sensory input. Pre-clinic planning with the patient, their family, or caregivers can help ensure that any concerns are identified and addressed by the appropriate services. For example, some patients may prefer later appointments to avoid crowded waiting rooms.