Accessible Information Standard

NHS Accessible Information Standard

The Accessible Information Standard is a new law to make sure that people who have a disability, impairment or sensory loss are given information they can easily read or understand. It is about making information easier to understand for people living with communication and information needs.

Everyone needs accessible information however significant numbers of people with a disability find it difficult to read the ‘average’ information available from most service providers. We have a social responsibility to ensure that people who use our services have access to information in formats that are appropriate to their needs.

From 31st July 2016 we should be asking all our patients if they have any information or communication needs and identifying how to meet those needs.  We need to ensure patients get information in their preferred formats, such as audio, large print and braille.

For more information on the standard can be accessed via the NHS England Website:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/patients/accessibleinfo

WWL is currently working towards meeting the core requirements of the Standard for everyone we serve.

Although, the Trust's IT Systems are currently unable to facilitate the full requirements of the standard (unable to facilitate the recording, alerting and sharing of patient needs across all services within the Trust), a number of measures have been implemented to work towards ensuring compliance.

These include:

  • Functionality identified on PAS to enable the recording of patient’s needs.
  • IT Solution identified for one aspect of AIS - Ensuring all letters which are routed via Synertec are printed in the patient’s preferred format.  WWL worked with Synertec to implement ‘capture and share’ system which facilitates the capture and acting upon information needs for all letters that are routed through synertec. Appointment Centre staff ask patients if they have any communication needs and record accordingly.
  • On-line Appointment Booking webpage amended to include reference to communication / information needs.
  • Communication difficulties / impairments captured within nursing admission documentation. Recorded on HIS System under ‘activities of daily living assessment’.  Visible to clinical staff during in-patient stay.
  • Access to Face to Face British Sign Language Interpreters available.  Services recently reviewed and new provider sourced and implemented from January 2020.
  • We now have video remote access to British Sign Language Interpreters in A&E.  A dedicated IPAD can be accessed from the A&E Reception Staff.  A simple guide on how to use is available. The service is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.