Accessible Information
Aims to make sure that people who have accessibility needs, reasonable adjustments, disability, impairment or sensory loss get appropriate information and communication support from NHS and adult social care services.
About this standard
- Publisher
- NHS England
- Reference code
- DCB1605 Amd 27/2017
- Publication date
- 10/08/2017
- Publication version
- 1.1.0
- Status
- Active
Show definitions of statuses
Active. Active standards are stable, maintained and have been approved, assured or endorsed for use by qualified bodies.
Deprecated Deprecated standards are available for use and are maintained, but are being phased out, so new functionality will not be added.
Retired standards Retired standards are not being maintained or supported and should not be used.
- Standard type
- Information standards
Show definitions of standard types
Collections. A Collection is a systematic gathering of a specified selection of data or information for a particular stated purpose from existing records held within health and care systems and electronic devices.
Extractions. An extraction is a type of collection that is pulled from an operational system by the data controller and transmitted to the receiver without additional processing or transcription by the sender.
Information standards. Information standards are agreed ways of doing something, written down as a set of precise criteria so they can be used as rules, guidelines, or definitions.
Technical Standards and specifications. Technical standards and specifications specify how to make information available technically including how the data is structured and transported.
- Contact point
Link to standard
- Documentation
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- Applies to
- All providers of publicly-funded NHS, public health and adult social care services
- Impacts on
- Commissioners must ensure that their commissioning and procurement arrangements with providers of health and/or adult social care reflect, enable and support implementation and compliance with this standard. They must also seek assurance from providers of their compliance with this standard. Implementation of this standard impacts all suppliers providing systems to the above providers; suppliers should work with their customers to determine appropriate use.
- Associated medias
- NHS England accessible information webpages Further information available on the NHS England website.
- NHS England accessible information webpages
- Conformance date
- 31/07/2016
Topics and care settings
- Topic
- Accessibility
- Access to records
- Appointment / scheduling
- Information codes of practice
- Messaging
- Patient communication
- Prescribing
- Referrals
- Tests and diagnostics
- Vaccination
- Care setting
- Community health
- Dentistry
- Hospital
- Maternity
- Mental health
- Pharmacy
- Social care
- Urgent and Emergency Care
Dependencies and related standards
- Dependencies
- Related standards
Review Information
- Scope
- Health Services, NHS Services, Adult Social Care
- Sponsor
Rob Dickman, Senior Policy Manager, Department of Health
- Senior Responsible Officer
Olivia Butterworth, Head of Public Participation, NHS England
- Business Lead
- Sarah Marsay, Public Engagement Manager, NHS England
- Approval date
- 03/08/2017
- Post Implementation review Date
- 31/07/2019
Legal basis and endorsements
- Legal authority
Section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012
This information standard is published under section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012
Other legal basis
This standard supports compliance with obligations under the Equality Act 2010.
More information
This standard requires all applicable organisations to identify, record, flag, share and meet the information and communication support needs of patients, service users, carers and parents with a disability, impairment or sensory loss.
Successful implementation will lead to improved outcomes and experiences, and the provision of safer and more personalised care and services to those individuals who come within the scope of the standard.
About this change
The standard has been updated following a post implementation review undertaken in early 2017.
Changes to the standard include:
- Updates to the meaning of certain terms used, including changes to the definitions for ‘parent’ and ‘highly visible’
- Amendments relating to mental health service users and the Mental Capacity Act 2005, to improve clarity, especially regarding support for people who may lack capacity
- Inclusion of advice regarding support for individuals with a learning difficulty
- Updates to reflect the current position regarding the inclusion and transfer of data recorded using existing systems.
The revised Implementation Guidance reflects these updates and also includes additional guidance on sharing of information (including consent), use of email/text message to communicate with patients/service users, parental responsibility, and to address some other specific queries that have been raised about interpretation.
There are no substantive amendments to the Requirements of the Standard and no substantive changes to the overall scope.
Page last updated: 16 October 2024