MICKEY Arnold doesn't like having the skin around his eyes touched or custard with skin on, but he loves pop music and going to theme parks.
This is the sort of information staff can learn about patients with learning disabilities thanks to the Hospital Traffic Light Assessment scheme.
It is a colour-coded document which gives essential information about a patient's medical history, routine, likes and dislikes.
"I've had some bad experiences with hospitals before," said Mr Arnold, 45, who has a mild learning disability.
"I don't like having my eyes touched as they are painful and nurses have been quite rough in the past."
Mr Arnold, of Beechdale, filled out the traffic light form before he went into hospital for a back operation last September. He said it made a big difference.
"I was very nervous and used the traffic light form to tell them about my negative past experiences. They took me on a tour of the operating theatre and told me what would happen and it made me feel a lot happier.
"I was also able to talk to the nurses better, as my traffic light had told them what I was interested in."
The assessment is filled out by patients or carers before they go to hospital. They have a traffic light sticker above their bed to show they have the assessment.
The system was introduced to Notts last summer, but the team behind the scheme want more people to know about it.
George Badiali, learning disability support team leader for Notts Healthcare Trust, said: "People with learning disabilities are often unable to communicate their needs, or feel intimidated by the hospital setting. Staff can be so busy that it can be difficult to assess what a patient wants.
"The traffic light system is so simple, but effective, as all that information is there ready."
More than 3,000 staff in Notts hospitals have been trained to use the system.
The colour red covers issues that staff must know, such as allergies or medication.
Amber deals with things that are important, including daily routine and issues such as how patients like to take medication. Green covers a patient's likes and dislikes and subjects they like to talk about.
Mr Badiali said: "People with learning disabilities can have quite specific routines. Knowing what a patient likes can also help to build a relationship with the staff."
The form is available from disability nurses, GP surgeries or the Learning Disability Team on 0115 969 1169 or email ALLDT@nottshc.nhs.uk.
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