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, contact by email.Woodlands Medical Practice are working within the standard and therefore asking patients when they make contact with the surgery, to highlight any needs with regards to the way information is available. This will then be recorded on your patient record for all future consultations/correspondenceFurther details below:

​Accessible Information Standard (AIS)
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

​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 Accessible Information Standard 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 Accessible Information Standard?

• 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

For more information on Accessible Information Standard, follow the link: www.england.nhs.uk/accessibleinfo
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