Accessible info std review pp ability net 28.02.17 v2

Accessible Information Standard

Sarah MarsayPublic Engagement ManagerNHS England

28th February 2017

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• The Accessible Information Standard aims to make sure that people who have a disability, impairment or sensory loss get accessible information and communication support.

• From 1st August 2016 onwards, all organisations that provide NHS care and / or publicly-funded adult social care must follow the Standard in full. This includes providers from the public, private and voluntary sectors.

• Commissioners (including Clinical Commissioning Groups and local authorities) are also required to support compliance by providers.

Overview

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The Standard sets out a series of requirements for all organisations that provide NHS care and / or publicly-funded adult social care. In summary, the Standard says that they must:

• identify• record• flag• share and • meet

the information and communication support needs of patients, service users, carers and parents with a disability, impairment or sensory loss.

Scope (1 of 2)

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The Standard says that patients, service users, carers and parents with a disability, impairment or sensory loss should:

• Be able to contact, and be contacted by, services in accessible ways, for example email or text message.

• Get letters and information in formats they can read and understand, for example audio, braille, email or easy read.

• Be supported by a communication professional at appointments if this is needed to support conversation, for example a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.

• Get support from health and care staff and organisations to communicate, for example to lip-read.

Scope (2 of 2)

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• From 1st August 2016 onwards, all organisations that provide NHS care and / or publicly-funded adult social care in England must comply with the Standard in full.

• A range of resources, tools and guidance have been made available to support compliance.

• Fundamentally, the Standard has succeeded if it means that people with a disability, impairment or sensory loss receive accessible information and communication support.

• We know that adoption / compliance is not universal, but we also know that it is happening, and is making a real difference.

• A post-implementation review is currently taking place.

Current position

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• The Standard does not set out accessibility requirements for NHS websites or online services.

• However, there are clear opportunities for meeting people’s information and communication needs digitally.

• Enabling access to an online portal can support services to provide accessible contact methods and accessible information / correspondence to patients with a disability, impairment or sensory loss.

• Also remember that, for many people, email and / or text message are accessible methods of communication.

Digital opportunities (1 of 3)

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• Access to an online portal can, for example: Enable patients with hearing loss to arrange appointments and

order repeat prescriptions online as an alternative to the telephone.

Enable patients with visual loss to access test results and other clinical information online, using assistive technology such as a screen-reader, as an alternative to written correspondence.

• In addition, use of video consultations can provide another way to meet the needs of d/Deaf patients in particular, for example through a three-way conversation between the GP / clinician, patient and a British Sign Language interpreter.

Digital opportunities (2 of 3)

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• Maximising the accessibility of digital communications and tools can enable services to meet the needs of many patients quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively.

• Practical steps include ensuring that: • Websites and electronic documents are accessible for people

using assistive technology such as screen-readers;• Plain English is used, and difficult terms are explained; • Videos include subtitles or closed captions;• Patients can use email, text message and / or an online portal

to contact the service, as well as vice versa.

Digital opportunities (3 of 3)

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• A review of the Standard is currently taking place, looking at impact (in its broadest sense) and identifying any adjustments needed to ensure it is (and continues to be) ‘fit for purpose’.

• Feedback is being sought from service providers, commissioners and service users, as well as other stakeholders, primarily via three ‘targeted’ surveys.

• The deadline for feedback is 10th March 2017.

• Following the review, a report will be produced, and it is likely that the Specification and Implementation Guidance will be reissued – however, there will be no substantive changes to the scope.

Post-implementation review – overview

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• Please complete a survey and have your say before 10th March!

• Further information about the Standard and the review, including online surveys, is published online at www.england.nhs.uk/accessibleinfo

• General enquiries should be sent to [email protected] or patients / members of the public can call 0300 311 22 33.

Further information and onwards contacts

Thank you!