Healthwatch has written an open letter to NHS England to improve the Accessible Information Standard (AIS).
This has been signed by eight other members of the Your Care, Your Way campaign, including Learning Disability England.
The Your Care, Your Way campaign is trying to help make sure people are receiving healthcare in the way they understand.
All providers of NHS care or other publicly-funded adult social care must meet the Accessible Information Standard (AIS).
A year ago NHS England reviewed the AIS but we still don’t know when it will be published or the changes they plan on making.
Like Healthwatch, we hear from people that there are still barriers to accessing health and social care.
People aren’t getting information in the format they need.
As Gary Bourlet, Membership and Engagement Lead, explains:
“Our members know how important accessible information is for people to be able to understand what is happening, make decisions and be in control of their life.
It is important to think about what format will help people the most, like audio or animation.
People don’t just need accessible communication either, they need support to understand it.
That is why it was so important that we support this campaign.
Having information that makes sense helps people to lead Good Lives.”
The letter is asking NHS England to publish the review of the AIS and be clear about how they will take forward the recommendations it makes.
It has been sent to Dr Neil Churchill, Director for Experience, Participation and Equalities at NHS England.