We are delighted to announce that Bury Care Organisation, which runs Fairfield General Hospital and community services, have joined the Sunflower network so that their patients, visitors and staff with a hidden disability can now make their disability more visible.

Owen Williams, chief executive, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, officially launched the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower at Fairfield General Hospital on 28 June.

The sunflower is a globally recognised symbol for non-visible disabilities, also known as hidden disabilities or invisible disabilities.

Bury Care Organisation has introduced Hidden Disability Sunflower lanyards, wristbands, and badges for people to wear. These can be picked up at the main entrance or main outpatients and in the community at Sunnybank clinic. This means that those with a hidden disability can now make their disability visible to those around them while in hospital.

Hidden disabilities can include autism, chronic pain, and learning difficulties as well as mental health conditions, mobility, speech impairments, and sensory loss such as speech, sight loss, hearing loss, or deafness.

Sunflower information posters have been put up around the hospital and in clinical areas to raise awareness and show support.

Owen Williams, chief executive, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“This is a fantastic scheme that will have a huge impact on patients, visitors and staff at Bury Care Organisation. It is amazing to think that doing something as simple as wearing a sunflower badge or wristband can make such a difference to your experience, be that in hospital or in a community clinic.”