What are trauma cards and why are there calls for NHS to use them?
A trial of pocket-sized trauma cards has lead to calls for the NHS to introduce them to help "empower" survivors when they are seeking health care.
Healthwatch England say the cards can help discreetly alert health workers to the needs of patients who has experienced trauma, and how they can effectively care for them.
A trial of the cards, which took place in Essex, found the cards to be a "helpful tool" for patients, and now the patient champion is suggesting a national pilot.
What are trauma cards?
The wallet-sized cards are designed to be handed to a healthcare professional when a cardholder is in a "triggering" situation. The cards explain that the holder has experience of trauma, and link to further resources to help provide sensitive, appropriate care.
The card has a QR code that, when scanned, provides more information to the healthcare professional about what the individual is experiencing and how best to help.
Who might need a trauma card?
The UK Trauma Council defines trauma as: "the way that some distressing events are so extreme or intense that they overwhelm a person’s ability to cope, resulting in lasting negative impact".
Healthwatch England says people who have experienced trauma may be reluctant to engage with health and care services.
It says it has experienced cases, particularly where the trauma has been caused by a medical experience, where people avoid testing or healthcare appointments. For example, one woman with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) told the patient champion that she has avoided cervical screenings for years because of a traumatic experience at 19.
Why is there a need for trauma cards?
A recent poll of 3,500 adults in England, conducted by YouGov for Healthwatch found that trauma is widespread, with 59% having experienced trauma at some point in their lives. This equates to around 34 million people in England, but the number is higher 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.
Other research has demonstrated the negative impact on people of not having healthcare appointments. Co-op Health looked at the avoidance of GP appointments in general and found that 23% of those who avoided appointments said it resulted in their symptoms becoming much worse, with 22% saying their illness had lasted longer than it should have.
Healthwatch England said that there was "significant uptake" in use of the cards during the pilot scheme in Essex – with 15,000 cards distributed.
The patient body said this shows that the cards have "huge potential" to improve the experiences for trauma survivors across the country.
Further figures for the poll revealed that more than two in five (43%) of those currently experiencing trauma would be likely to use a trauma card, and 30% of those who have experienced trauma in the past would be likely to use one.
One patient who used the card during the pilot said: "I find it very helpful – because of the anxiety I just shut down and can’t talk. Knowing I’ve got the card means I’m less likely to be triggered. It’s like that comfort blanket. It takes that stress off you."
What the experts say
Louise Ansari, chief executive of Healthwatch England, says a traumatic event "can lead to long-lasting health issues affecting a person’s quality of life".
"When people avoid healthcare, their condition can deteriorate, and their illness can last longer," she explains. "But for vulnerable people, including those who have trauma, avoiding healthcare can lead to even greater impacts."
Ansari says the pilot project in Essex suggested trauma cards "can improve experiences for people using health and care services, empowering them and facilitating communication with healthcare staff."
Healthwatch England is now calling for NHS England to support a national evaluative pilot of a trauma card initiative.
"With training and better awareness, trauma cards can become a helpful tool for both the patient and medical staff," she continues.
"People across England should be able to order a trauma card and have it delivered to them for free, along with an information sheet that clearly explains how and when they can use it," she continues.
"In the long term, and subject to the pilot results, a digital trauma card could be added to the NHS App or smartphone wallets."
Read more about mental health and trauma:
Is it really better to forget? Three trauma experts on the Severance effect (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
Nine ways to recover from birth trauma as Oti Mabuse shares her experience (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
How to manage stress and low mood as antidepressant use almost doubles in UK (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
