Can trauma cards help people access healthcare?

There are millions of people in England currently experiencing trauma, and millions more who have previously experienced it. For many, experience of trauma can act as a barrier to seeking health and care services. 

In 2022, Healthwatch Essex piloted trauma cards – wallet-sized cards that a person with trauma can give to a healthcare professional. The cards explain that the holder has experience of trauma, and link to further resources to help provide sensitive, appropriate care.

The pilot was hugely successful, showing how a simple intervention can make it easier for people who have been through trauma to get the care they need. 

In October 2024, Healthwatch England commissioned YouGov to run a nationally representative poll of people from England to understand how trauma cards might benefit people more widely. 

The research asked about whether respondents had experienced trauma, how this had affected their experiences of care, and whether they would be likely to use a trauma card if available.

We found that trauma is widespread, with 59% having experienced trauma at some point in their lives. The number is higher still for some demographic groups, including women, autistic people, and people with ADHD. 

Trauma can prevent people from receiving care, with nearly half the respondents having avoided using health and care services because of their trauma at least once. Over a third of people had never told a healthcare professional about their trauma, and more than a third of those who had felt uncomfortable doing so.

Avoiding care is detrimental to both the individual and to the health and care system, with unaddressed needs likely to store up greater problems further down the line. This highlights the importance of tools like trauma cards, which encourage people to access services when they need them. 

Over two in five (43%) of respondents who were currently experiencing trauma said they would be likely to use a trauma card if these were available for free.

In this report, we explain our findings in further detail, and make recommendations to improve care for people with experience of trauma. These include:

• The Department of Health & Social Care and NHS England to roll out a national pilot of a trauma card similar to Healthwatch Essex’s local pilot
• Investment in a communications campaign to raise awareness of the pilot among the public and health and care staff