1 in 5 people in the UK live with a disability. Many experience sensory sensitivity.
But most hospitals still don’t provide spaces where we can safely wait to be seen.
Trigger warning: This post discusses medication overdose, hospital experiences, and sensory distress.
This week could have ended differently
This ME Awareness Week, I want to share something deeply personal — because what happened to me could happen to anyone with a sensory disability. And right now, our hospitals are not ready.
Last week, I accidentally took two sets of my evening medication — including Zomorph, Gabapentin, Propranolol, Duloxetine, and sedating antihistamines. For someone with severe ME, where even small shifts in medication can have big consequences, it was a dangerous mix.
I realised what I had done when I felt terror, confusion, flushing, and a creeping sense of panic. I called 999. The paramedics were kind and calm. They reassured me, checked my vitals, and got me safely to Aintree Hospital.
But it wasn’t the overdose that broke me — it was the waiting room
I was dropped off in the A&E department just before 10pm. No treatment room. No corridor bed. Just a large waiting area — harsh fluorescent lights, constant movement, vending machines buzzing, and noise all around.
For someone with ME, that environment is more than overwhelming. It’s physically painful.
By 11pm I had to put on my sunglasses. I used my AirPods to block out some of the noise. I was nauseous, shaking, and terrified I’d pass out.
Still, I waited.
I didn’t see a doctor until the early hours of the morning.
This isn’t a complaint about NHS staff — they were doing all they could. This is about the environment itself. Because it isn’t just ME patients who suffer like this:
1 in 5 people in the UK live with a disability, many involving sensory sensitivity.
Around 404,000 people in England are now estimated to be affected by ME/CFS — a staggering 62% rise from the previously accepted figure of 250,000.
Sensory overload affects people with autism, PTSD, migraines, ADHD, dementia, and more.
And yet most NHS hospitals still don’t provide sensory-friendly spaces.
The new estimate suggests that approximately 404,000 people are affected by ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome), a 62 per cent rise from the previously accepted figure of 250,000.
Study from The University of Edinburgh
When You Don’t Have What You Need
There are some hospital visits that stay with you — not because of the diagnosis, but because of how exposed you feel.
This wasn’t even my most recent visit.
But I didn’t have my hospital bag with me that time. No sunglasses. No noise blockers. No ear defenders. Nothing to soften the light or silence the chaos around me.
The pain was already bad. But then came the smell of antiseptic. A loud, echoing conversation across the room. The beep of a machine next to me. It all compounded — until my body and brain couldn’t take any more.
So I made do with what I had.
Image: woman lying in a hospital bed with two surgical masks over her face to block light and odours.
I wrapped surgical masks over my eyes to block out the harsh strip lighting. Over my nose, to keep out the smells that made me feel sick.
It wasn’t just uncomfortable — it was degrading.
And I wasn’t the only one struggling in that room.
This is why I’m asking for something simple but vital: a quiet space. A low-lit side room. A chair behind a divider. A place where someone in pain — or panic — can just breathe.
Because no one should have to improvise their way to peace in a place that’s meant to heal them.
What does a quiet space look like?
It doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. A sensory-friendly room might include:
Dimmed or adjustable lighting
Minimal noise (or noise-reducing design)
Comfortable seating with space to recline
Signage indicating it’s a calm, safe space
A staff member trained in sensory access
These spaces aren’t just helpful — they can be life-saving.
This ME Awareness Week, I’m calling on NHS Trusts and public service providers to act
It’s time for:
Hospitals to include quiet rooms in emergency departments
Public transport hubs to offer sensory spaces
Events and venues to consider sensory access as part of basic accessibility
Local councils to fund inclusive design in community buildings
If you’ve ever needed a break from the chaos — because of illness, stress, or disability — this campaign is for you too.
Join me by sharing your story. Use the hashtag:
#SilenceSaves #MEAwareness #SensoryFriendlyCare
Want to help? Here’s how
Share this post
Sign the petition [insert link]
Email your local NHS Trust or councillor
Download the free media kit (coming soon)
Tag your local hospital or MP on social media
You can survive something once. But you shouldn’t have to suffer to be seen.
Together, let’s make silence a source of strength — not fear.
If this post brought up difficult emotions, please know you’re not alone.
You can always reach out, or join our community where people truly understand. 💙
