Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust has rolled out a new electronic patient record system designed to improve how reasonable adjustments are identified and delivered for autistic people and those with learning disabilities. The digital approach aims to ensure that key information about patients’ needs is recorded clearly and used consistently across services.

Through a secure online portal, patients are now able to share important details at their first appointment, including communication preferences, neurodivergence, and any adjustments they require. Recording this information early is intended to reduce repetition for patients, cut down on administrative duplication for staff, and improve continuity of care across different teams and settings.

The new system also provides real-time data, allowing services to track patient journeys more effectively and identify pressures or gaps in support. By replacing retrospective audits with live information, teams can better understand outcomes, plan care more proactively and support safer, timelier discharges from services.

The records were redesigned in collaboration with people who have lived experience of autism and learning disabilities, alongside clinicians. Their input helped shape what information is collected, how it is described and how it is flagged within the system. The Trust said this co-designed approach ensures the records reflect real needs rather than assumptions, supporting more personalised care. Leaders at Kent and Medway say the digital infrastructure forms part of a wider programme to reduce inequalities and meet national expectations around reasonable adjustment flags in mental health services.