Learning disability perspective: a walkthrough at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital
Download (PDF 815.8 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Sandwell undertook a project to understand how people with learning disabilities find their way to hospital appointments at the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital. They arranged to visit the hospital with five service users with learning disabilities, a service user using an electric wheelchair and two support staff. This visit took place on 10 September 2025 in the morning.
The hospital trust supplied a scenario letters for members of the groups to wayfind. The groups decided on the appointments made to see the following departments:
- Respiratory
- Gynaecology
- Paediatrics – Outpatient Appointment
The groups decided that they would also visit the A&E dept from floor five and the Urgent Treatment Centre.
The group had comments to improve the letters, including font size, more information on how to get to the hospital departments.
The group's experience of getting a bus to hospital resulted in them recommending that appointment letters should contain more information on how to get to hospital via bus.
The group's experience of wayfinding to the various departments resulted in them suggesting improvement to signage and waiting rooms.