NHS England has introduce an Accessible Information Standard to ensure patients with information or communication needs have accessible information. For example, larger print, use of hearing loop, an interpreter, contact by email.
Esher Green Surgery are working within the standard and therefore asking patients when they make contact with the surgery if there are any needs with regards to the way information is available. This will then be recorded on your patient record for all future consultations/correspondence
The full details of this is below
Accessible Information Standard
Making healthcare information accessible
A new Accessible Information standard was agreed in 2015
All organisations that provide NHS or adult social care must follow the AIS by law
Organisations must follow the standard in full by 31st July 2016
The Aims:
The AIS aims to make sure that disabled people have access to information that they can understand and any communication support they might need.
The standard tells organisations how to make information accessible
to:
patients
service users
their carers and parents
This includes making sure that people get information in different formats it they need it, such as:
large print
Braille
Easy read
Via e mail
The AIS also tells organisations how to support people’s communication needs, e.g. by offering support from a British Sign Language interpreter, deafblind manual interpreter or an advocate.
What does the AIS tell organisations to do?
1. Ask people if they have any information or communication needs and find out how to meet their needs
2. Record those needs in a set way
3. Highlight a person’s file, so it is clear that they have information or communication needs, and clearly explain how those needs should be met
4. Share information about a person’s needs with other NHS and adult social care providers, when they have consent or permission to do so
5. Make sure that people get information in an accessible way and communications support if they need it
Who must follow the AIS?
All organisations that provide NHS or adult social care must follow the standard
This includes NHS Trusts, Foundation Trusts and GP practices
Organisations that pay for and make decisions about NHS and adult social care services must also support the standard
Why must organisations follow the standard? Organisations must follow the standard by law More information on AIS: www.england.nhs.uk/accessibleinfo