Accessible Information Standard

At Bristol Community Health, we put our patients’ needs at the centre of what we do.

Communication needs are no exception. We believe everyone should have equal access and be in control of their own healthcare.

From 16 January 2017, we will be implementing the Accessible Information Standard to ensure that we are meeting your communication needs.

What is the Accessible Information Standard?

The Accessible Information Standard is a legal requirement for all NHS and adult social care organisations. It requires us to meet the communication needs of people with a disability, impairment or sensory loss.

The standard applies to all patients and service users who have information or communication needs relating to a disability, impairment or sensory loss. By capturing your communication needs correctly, we can then ensure that your communication needs are accommodated for.

A member of staff communicating to a patient with a learning disability using pictures

From 16 January, we will need to:

  • ASK you if you have any information or communication needs.
  • RECORD your needs in a clear and standardised way.
  • HIGHLIGHT your file if you have communication needs to ensure your needs are met.
  • SHARE your needs with other NHS and adult social care providers (with permission)
  • ACT and take steps to ensure you receive information which you can access and understand.

Examples of this may be:

  • Appointment letters in large print
  • BSL interpreter present during appointments
  • Leaflets in easy read
  • Longer appointments to give extra time to explain things clearly
  • Adapting staff communication e.g. using plain language, gestures, speaking more slowly

We are confident that this standard will lead to improvements in patient satisfaction and experience, patient safety, outcomes and patients’ ability to self-care and adhere to clinical and medical advice.

Let us know what you think

This page will be updated with regular updates. If you want more information, or to feedback your views, please contact our PPE team on [email protected] or 0117 900 2146

Resources about the Accessible Information Standard

An update on the Accessible Information Standard from the learning disabilities organisation, CHANGE.

We have diabetes self-management videos available in British Sign Language.

Read the Easy Read version of the Accessible Information Standard

Watch this video below from the deaf charity, SignHealth. Dr Kaiser Munir explains about the Accessible Information Standard and the communication adjustments he has made in his GP surgery to benefit deaf people.

 

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