Health / Hospital Passports
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
(The document I wish I’d known about sooner)
There are some things you don’t realise you need… Until you really, really need them.
A Health (or Hospital) Passport is one of those things.
I didn’t know they existed for a long time. And now? I wouldn’t attend a hospital appointment without one.
What Is a Health / Hospital Passport?
It’s a document that explains your needs during medical appointments or hospital stays.
That’s it.
It isn’t dramatic. It isn’t complicated. It’s just clarity - written down.
It tells healthcare professionals how to support you properly.
And when your brain goes into overload mode, or your body is exhausted, or you’re masking harder than you realise… having something written down can make all the difference.
What Does It Include?
The version I used was from the National Autistic Society (NAS) — and I’ll link it here:
Some hospitals have their own versions too, but the NAS one is widely recognised and very thorough.
It covers things like:
Important things to know about me
My medical history and medications
How to communicate with me
How I will communicate
How I experience pain
How I show or describe pain
Things I struggle with
What causes me distress
How to help reduce distress
Sensory needs
Special interests
What helps me feel safe
Anything else that matters
The NAS version also includes information explaining autism itself, which can be incredibly helpful.
Because sometimes the issue isn’t that professionals don’t care.
It’s that they don’t understand.
And those are two very different things.
Where Can You Get One?
Some hospitals provide their own Health Passport.
But I used the National Autistic Society version.
You can download it online, fill it in digitally or print it and complete it by hand.
You don’t need permission to use one.
You don’t need a special appointment to ask.
You just… bring it.
What Do You Actually Do With It?
This is the part people don’t always explain.
You hand it over.
That’s it.
When you arrive at your appointment, you can say:
“I have a Health Passport that explains how best to support me.”
You can give it to:
The receptionist
The nurse
The doctor
The consultant
The anaesthetist
The dentist
Anyone involved in your care
If you’re unsure who should see it - give it to someone and ask them to make sure it’s read.
During appointments, if it feels like it hasn’t been read, you can gently say:
“There’s important information in my passport about how I communicate.”
You are allowed to advocate for yourself.
Even if that feels uncomfortable.
Especially if that feels uncomfortable.
You are also allowed to take someone with you to help advocate for you.
Why Is It So Beneficial?
Because you fill it out before the appointment.
You don’t have to explain everything on the spot.
You don’t have to find words when your brain freezes.
You don’t have to remember every detail under pressure.
It gives you time to think about your needs calmly.
It helps you understand yourself better too.
It makes appointments more positive.
It reduces misunderstandings.
It reduces the chance of being labelled “difficult” when you’re actually distressed.
It helps professionals understand what’s happening - because they know how you show pain, or anxiety, or overload.
And most importantly?
It helps them support you in the best way for you.
Who Is It For?
Autistic adults.
Autistic children.
People waiting for diagnosis.
People with ADHD.
People with communication differences.
People with anxiety.
People who struggle in medical environments.
Honestly?
Anyone who finds hospitals overwhelming.
A Personal Note
Medical settings can be intense.
Bright lights.
Unpredictable waiting times.
Strangers touching you.
Unexpected questions.
Pain.
Noise.
Loss of control.
That is a lot for any nervous system.
A Health Passport doesn’t fix everything.
But it shifts the balance slightly back towards you.
It says:
“This is how my brain works.”
“This is how my body responds.”
“This is what helps.”
And that matters.
This Is Just My Experience
This blog is based on my personal experience, not medical advice.
Always speak to your own medical team about your individual needs.
But if you’ve ever walked out of an appointment thinking,
“I didn’t explain myself properly…”
or
“They didn’t understand me…”
A Health Passport might be worth looking into.
Sometimes support isn’t about asking for more.
It’s about explaining clearly.
And sometimes the most powerful thing you can do…
Is write it down.
I hope this is helpful.
JuJu x
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