Accessible Information #YourCareYourWay

Posted on March 9th, 2022

Clear, understandable information is important to help you make the right health and care decisions. Join Healthwatch Lincolnshire’s campaign and have your say on what needs to change.

Everyone should be given healthcare information in the way they need it. Healthwatch Lincolnshire want to hear your experience of accessing or understanding healthcare information.

Medical and healthcare information can be complex but if you’re disabled or have a sensory loss, you have a legal right to Health and Social Care information in a way you understand, and communications support if you need it. So, for example, if you’re D/deaf, you should be able to use a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter at an appointment.
Even though the Accessible Information Standard has been a legal requirement since 2016, many NHS Trusts are not supporting equal access to care for deaf and blind patients.
Healthwatch Lincolnshire want to know:
How clear and understandable you find the information that Health and Care Services give to you?

• Whether you needed and got support to access or understand the Health and Care information you were given?
• If you did not get support, the impact this had on you?
• Your feedback is confidential but can help services improve healthcare communication for you and your loved ones.
• We’ll be using your feedback to influence the NHS to ensure that everyone can get healthcare information in the format they need.
• Have Your Say by completing this short survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/F3TZLYQ

What rights do you have?

If you have a disability, impairment or sensory loss, or are a parent or carer of someone who does, you should expect:

To contact and be contacted by services in ways you find accessible.
Services to give information and correspondence in formats you can read and understand.
To be supported at appointments if needed.
Health and Care Services to support and help you to communicate.

https://www.healthwatchlincolnshire.co.uk/advice-and-information/2022-02-17/accessible-information-standard-%E2%80%93-what-you-can-expect-services

Have Your Say

You can help make Health and Care Services better by sharing your experiences and ideas.
Talk to us, you can call on: 01205 820 892, email: info@healthwatchlincolnshire.co.uk or visit our website at: www.healthwatchlincolnshire.co.uk/have-your-say