Healthwatch Essex create Accessible Information Standard Resource

The Healthwatch Essex Accessible Information Standard (AIS) Working Group, which includes members of the Collaborate Essex Disability & Carers Forum, has created an AIS resource to raise awareness for GP’s and practice staff on how they can make their practice more accessible for people living with sensory impairments.

Since 1 August 2016, all organisations that provide NHS care and/or publicly funded adult social care are legally required to follow the Accessible Information Standard. The Standard sets out a specific, consistent approach to identifying, recording, flagging, sharing and meeting the information and communication support needs of patients, service users, carers and parents with a disability, impairment or sensory loss.

The NHS Accessible Information Standard makes clear how NHS and social care services in England must provide accessible information to patients with communication needs. By following the Standard, services will also meet some of their obligations under the Equality Act 2010.

Unfortunately, based off experiences shared by our volunteers with lived experience, we discovered that not all GP practices are currently compliant. The AIS Working Group unanimously agreed that creating a resource that could be shared far and wide with GP professionals will benefit the local sensory impaired community. The resource was fully co-produced, and every section was contributed to and shaped by people with lived experience. The resource includes background of what AIS is, offers advice on how GP practices can help towards following the AIS and guidance on how to treat patients living with sensory impairments. The resource also includes suggestions on how to make the practice environment accessible and advice on how to test if the GP practice is AIS compliant.

Sam Fox, who participated in the co-production, shared:

“It was great to be able to work with Healthwatch Essex to create this resource, which is something that we have all been trying to get actioned for the past 8 years. One change will make a difference. Several changes will make a massive difference and hopefully NHS services can implement all of the suggestions listed in the resource as they are all relatively easy. We, as volunteers at Healthwatch Essex, are always more than happy to help GP’s and NHS services implement any of these changes.”

If you would like to find out more, please contact [email protected].