"My autistic brother"

My brother was taken to University Hospital Wishaw on Sunday night around 11.30pm by my mother as he was feeling short of breath and had chest pains. My brother has autism and addiction issues related to alcohol. Due to my brothers autism he can neglect himself and struggles in social and stressful circumstances. My mother was asked to leave the hospital due to covid with my brother then pointing out that she is his carer and is entitled to remain with him. This was reluctantly agreed to. 

My brother was struggling with the wait time to be seen, again linked to his autism and the stressful situation, and he was prioritised to be seen at triage around 1am, which was appreciated. 

My brother advised the nurse that he was autistic, has addiction issues, had chest pains and was struggling to breath. My brothers medical records will show that he has attended with similar symptoms previously and has health issues related to his addiction. My brother was automatically told he would need to go for a covid test. My brother asked if this was a legal requirement or a suggestion (not to be difficult, but for clear instruction due to his autism). My mother advised the nurse of this and was told that we’re all a bit autistic and they weren't getting in to politics.

My brother has struggled with covid tests previously due to the intrusive sensory nature of them which again is related to his autism and was understandably reluctant to agree to go for one. The nurse then made suggestion to him that he could be going around with covid “killing people”, adding that he was putting them and their own children at risk by being there. 

Upon leaving the hospital my mother booked a covid test for my brother the next day which has since returned negative. My mother was very upset by the attitude of the nurse both as a carer for an autistic son and as a professional who is heavily involved in working with people who have autism. 

I would like to clarify the following concerns I have relating to the above incident; 

1. Attending a hospital for any reason for someone with autism is an extremely difficult and daunting situation. Negative attitudes and experiences are  likely to impact on any future attendance making it more difficult for carers to encourage medical assessment and increasing the chances that a serious medical problem is missed. 

2. There appeared to be resistance for my mother to attend with my brother as his carer. I fully understand the concerns around covid, however, he would not attend hospital on his own, be able to give a true account of himself to staff or manage to wait to be assessed on his own. Rather, he would leave hospital prior to assessment putting his own health at risk rather than manage this stressful situation himself. 

3. “We’re all a bit autistic”, regardless of how this phrase was meant, is extremely insensitive to an autistic person and their carer as well as completely dismissive of the diverse needs that accompany this condition. 

4. Accusing my brother of putting others at risk, “killing them” and putting the nurses own children at risk due to questioning the need for a covid test I find to be entirely unprofessional. A covid test is extremely intrusive to the senses for someone with autism and traumatising to go through. 

My mother was also quick to point out that arrangements were made for by brother to be assessed quicker due to his autism which was appreciated and also that a nurse on a previous visit to hospital could not have been any nicer to my brother or made him feel any more comfortable. This poor experience is therefore not a reflection on overall practice at UHW.