About me card pilot

Healthwatch Warrington reviewed the pilot of the About Me Awareness Card, which was introduced to help patients communicate individual needs, reduce anxiety and support more person-centred care. Developed in partnership with North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust, the card allows patients to highlight communication needs, triggers and reasonable adjustments. Around 120-150 patients had alerts added to their hospital records during the pilot, with the highest use in Emergency Departments and Outpatients. 

Hospital staff reported better understanding of patients’ needs, fewer distressed situations and more effective consultations. Patients said the card reduced anxiety, improved communication and gave them greater confidence attending appointments. Many felt reassured that staff already understood important information about them before interactions began. The card was also adopted by Warrington Jobcentre in January 2025, extending its use beyond healthcare settings. 

The main area for improvement was staff awareness and consistency. Some cardholders reported that not all staff recognised the card or understood its purpose. There were also calls to extend the scheme into other settings such as GP practices and community health services. Healthwatch noted that more structured data collection would help evaluate the card’s long-term impact more effectively.

Overall, the review concluded that the About Me card had successfully improved communication, reduced anxiety and supported more personalised care. The report recommends expanding the scheme, increasing staff training, improving data collection and raising awareness among both professionals and the public. A case study included in the report demonstrated how the card and related advocacy work helped secure reasonable adjustments for a patient who struggled to understand and retain information during healthcare appointments.