Making health and social care information accessible
The new Accessible Information Standards for GP Practices has been launched by NHS England and comes into force on 31 July 2016. Practices must ensure that all information and communication support is provided in appropriate formats for people who have a disability, an impairment or have experienced sensory loss. The aim is for them to have access to information that can be easily understood, for example in large print, braille or translation via a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.
By 1 September 2015, practices should:
- Prepare for implementation of the Standard, including assessing their current systems and processes, develop and commence roll out of a local implementation plan.
- Ensure implementation guidance accompanying the Standard has been read and used to inform local decision-making.
By 1 April 2016, practices are required to:
- Review how they will ensure that people will be able to receive information/communications which they can readily access and understand.
- Practices will need to be in a position to identify and record information/communication needs when patients first contact/register.
- Identify and record information/communication needs as part of ongoing contact by patients already registered
By 31 July 2016, practices will need to have done the following:
- Identified all patient information/communication needs
- Highlighted or ‘flagged’ in the person’s file or notes so it is clear that they have information or communication needs and how those needs should be met.
- Recorded the details clearly
- Flagged the patients’ notes accordingly
- Shared people’s information and communication needs with other providers of NHS and adult social care, when they have consent or permission to do so.
- Ensure people receive information they can access and understand, and receive communication support if they need
Requirements, criteria and timelines practices must follow are outlined in the specifications.
Enquiries regarding implementation of the Accessible Information Standard should
be directed to NHS England by emailing england.nhs.participation@nhs.net
Further information and documentation about the Accessible Information Standard can be found at www.england.nhs.uk/accessibleinfo
Last updated : 12 Aug 2015
Board update - April 2019 (15 Apr 2019)
Several key decisions affecting members were taken at the Londonwide LMCs Board of Directors meeting in March. These included: Increasing the hourly honoraria rate for LMC activity by £3...Sessional GP subcommittee election nominations (15 Apr 2019)
Nominations for all sixteen seats of the Sessional GP subcommittee for the 2019-22 session are open until 12pm Thursday 18 April 2019. To participate in the election, please log...Scrutiny of NHS spending and plans (12 Apr 2019)
Earlier this month the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee published a critical report on NHS financial sustainability and the NHS Long Term Plan, following evidence from NHS England, NHS Improvement,...UK LMC Conference 2019 update (12 Apr 2019)
The UK LMC Conference was held in Belfast on 19-20 March. A full list of the motions proposed and carried can be found here. Motion 22 from Tower Hamlets...CQC compliance - Wednesday 12 June 2019 - places still available (12 Apr 2019)
...An Overview of the NHS Pension Scheme - Wednesday 24 April 2019 - last few places remaining (12 Apr 2019)
...Londonwide LMCs' March 2019 Newsletter (20 Mar 2019)
Feedback sought on legal changes proposed for NHS Long Term Plan delivery (20 Mar 2019)
NHS England are seeking changes to the Health and Social Care Act, including the competition rules affecting CCGs, who can sit on their boards and how closely they can work...First statutory National Data Guardian for Health and Social Care appointed (19 Mar 2019)
Dame Fiona Caldicott has been appointed as the first statutory National Data Guardian (NDG) for Health and Social Care. This remit of this role is to ensure that the public...New Daffodil Standards and QOF: Supporting quality improvements in palliative and end of life care (19 Mar 2019)
March is the awareness month for Marie Curie’s Daffodil campaign. Part of this campaign includes the Daffodil Standards for palliative and end of life care, aimed at GP practices, and...Guidance
We provide expert guidance for practices in our guidance section, as well as an archive of other materials you may find useful.
GP Support
Contact our GP Support team if you need help or advice.
The team provide professional and pastoral support to GPs and practice teams on a broad range of issues.