THE Great Western Hospital has become the first in the country to launch an innovative scheme offering extra support to young people with a hidden disability.

Children with a condition that has no visible symptoms, such as autism or epilepsy, will be offered a sunflower lanyard when visiting the hospital to make staff aware of their condition without having them to declare it.

The scheme, which started this week, has been used in several UK airports. Director of nursing at Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group Gill May said: “As soon as we saw the difference the lanyards were making to children at airports, we knew we wanted to replicate that success in the NHS.

“We’re extremely proud to be the first area in the country to introduce such a worthwhile initiative.”

The initiative has been well received by parents and families who usually spend days or weeks to prepare their child for a trip to hospital.

Gill added: “Attending hospital can be a daunting experience for any child, but it can be even worse for a child with a hidden disability. Loud noises, large crowds and unfamiliar surroundings can cause real distress and anxiety to a child with autism. And while we can’t change the sometimes-scary sights and sounds of a hospital, by discreetly shining a light on a hidden disabilities, staff, patients and other visitors will not only be able to adapt their behaviour but also help them better understand why a child might be acting in a certain way.”