Key campaigner call to action – Help your GP provide information in a format their patients can read

Summary

For too long, too many blind and partially sighted people have been receiving their health information in a format they cannot read. People with sight loss have been kept in the dark regarding test results, and missed appointments they didn’t know they had. While others have resortedto asking family, friends or neighbours to read their confidential information out to them.

From July 2016, this should no longer be the case.

Earlier this year, NHS England approved the Accessible Information Standard (1605). The Standard will ensure that health information is provided to all patients and service users in a way they can read and understand. This applies to all healthcare providers – GPs, Dentists, Hospitals and Pharmacists.

This is a huge achievement. Thanks to everyone who has supported this campaign over the years, you’ve made a real difference and have helped make this Standard a reality.

By 1 April 2016, GPs must identify and record how their patientsneed to be communicated with. Whether they’re visiting their service for the first time, or a regular user. Then, by 31 July 2016, these records must be in place, and patients should receive information in the format they have requested.

However, we’re concerned that this message just isn’t getting through to healthcare providers. This is where you come in. As a Key campaigner, we need you to give a handout to your local GP Surgery, where patient records are held, to ensure that they understand these upcoming changes and what is expected of them.

Call to Action

Whether you’re blind, partially sighted or sighted,receive your health information in a format you can read or not; there are a number of things you can do to help your GP provide information in a format their patients can read.

Why act now?

Healthcare providers must start putting proceduresinto place by 1 April 2016, which is less than 4 months away. With GP Surgeries facingever-increasing demands, we need you to alert them to the Accessible Information Standard as soon as possible to help them ensure that they meet its guidelines.

Depending on how involved you’re willing to get, and how much time you have to spare, take a look at our quick action and high impact action below.

Quick action – give a handout to your GP

Please give a handout to your GP Surgery.This is simple to do. We’ve createda short leaflet for you to sendto your Doctor, or hand in to your Practice reception explaining more about the Standard and what is required of the Practice.

You can take this quick action by downloading the handout at: Don’t have access to the internet or a printer? Get in touch and we can send you a handout to give to your GP.

Once you’ve taken action, please let us know:

  • Who at the GP Surgery you gave the handout to
  • The name of your GP Surgery, its postcode and email address (if you have them)
  • When you handed over the handout

Knowing more about the GP Surgery you’ve informed will help us to track the campaign’s progress, and help shape our future engagement.

High impact action – meet with your local patient participation group and/or your local Healthwatch

Get in touch with your local patient participation group and/or Healthwatch to make them aware of the Standard.

Both groups were established to listenand act on to people’s views and experiences of health and social care.Highlighting the issue of inaccessible information, and the need for healthcare providers to put this right, is a great way to ensure that GPs, Dentists, Pharmacists and Hospitals in your area fully implement the Standard.

To find out how to contact your local Healthwatch, please visit: call our campaigns hotline on 0207391 2123 and we’ll do our best to help.

To find out more about your local patient participation group and how to get in touch with them, please contact your GP Surgery.

Need advice on what to say when meeting with your local Healthwatch or patient participation group? Get in touch on 020 7391 2123 or at .

Share your story

Personal experiences and real life stories really help to put our message across and bring our campaigns to life. We’re always on the lookout for stories.

Are you blind or partially sighted? Do you receive inaccessible information from your healthcare providers? Please get in touch with us to share the consequences of this. Call 020 7391 2123 or email .

There are lots of opportunities for you to share your story, if you’d prefer us not to use your name, we can anonymise your information. Either way, we’ll always check that it’s okay with you before sharing your story with anyone else.

Keeping RNIB’s Campaigns Team up to date

We love hearing from our Key Campaigners! We’re on hand to support you when taking action and would love it if you could feed back to us on taking your action.

Where you can find help and support

Our briefingsare there to help you and can be found at:

Please contact me at call 020 7391 2173 if you have any questions or would like any further information.

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