Mary Leroy – Understanding the autistic patient in the emergency setting

Mary chats us through aspects of the autistic conditions, shining a light on the challenges but also some providing top tips on how to help manage patients from this group in an emergency situation including approach and communication strategies.

Top 3 Points from this podcast:

• Keep calm and use a confident demeanour
• Use short sentences and try to create a good rapport
• Consider who is there or are contactable, someone who knows the patient and can assist with communications

Resources related to this podcast:

Sign national guidance 145

The Scottish strategy for autism

brain and hand app

Part 5, adults with incapacity act

Mental welfare commission

About Mary

Mary is a Nursing Officer for the Mental Welfare Commission Scotland. She has many years of experience in both learning disability and mental health nursing. One of her specific areas of interest is working with autistic people. Mary has been involved in Supporting families of autistic children, working with both the child and parents, she has worked jointly with a Speech and Language therapist in the provision of Social Skills training for young autistic adults.

The most recent project involving her interest and passion for autism was ” The Mental Welfare Commissions Autism themed visit” across Scotland.
This was Mary’s first time that the Commission had undertaken a visit specifically looking at support for people with autism. This project generated recommendations to improve care and treatment for this population. In her spare time, she enjoys walking in the great outdoors, running and yoga. she is an accomplished cook and loves to eat too!