They start doing this whilst just holding a syringe in their hand and using their fingers, then progress to using the syringe to touch the back of the child’s hand. With very young children, the specialist nurses use the nursey rhyme ‘round and round the garden’ as an approach to support immunisation. A very small number of children cannot tolerate the verbal approach, so are simply shown the images. This is supported with visual images, using Boardmaker software, and is repeated verbally to the children at each step. They start this work with children as soon as they begin in reception year and they use a ‘4-stage mantra’ to support the children’s learning:

This work has only been possible because the school have been very supportive of the Care Trust’s input. She has designed and delivered sessions on immunisation preparation, to better support children with learning disabilities in Bradford.Īt one school for children with profound autism she designed a large-scale desensitisation programme, delivered on a weekly basis. Tina Wildy is a nurse specialist at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, and supports children with learning disabilities and autism in schools. Care Trust’s work in schools in Bradford, West Yorkshire Whilst most of the examples we were sent about desensitisation describe work done with individuals we have also been told about a large-scale desensitisation programme. She had her favourite music whilst this was happening.įor further information please contact Hayley Goodwin. We then supported her when she went for a blood test and gave the massage before the blood was taken. The 3rd week we started to tighten the band very slightly and gave the massage. After the first two visits, we introduced the elastic band and placed this on the arm (without tightening it) and continued with the massage. We played her favourite music and she got used to the person giving the massage. By offering massage you can build a rapport and trust. We visited the community client twice a week for 4 weeks prior to the blood test and gave a massage to the arm (this increased the blood flow to the arm). This example of desensitisation was sent to us by an occupational therapist who worked jointly with a nursing colleague: Desensitisation work Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust Below are some of the examples we were sent. The majority of these were stories which described desensitisation work as well as reasonable adjustments that were put in place for the individual. We had a lot of responses to our information request for examples of good practice in relation to blood tests and injections for people with learning disabilities.

Pclp for needle desensitisation