Healthwatch England responds to Accessible Information Standard update
The chief executive of Healthwatch England has responded to the updated Accessible Information Standard. The standard aims to ensure people with a a disability, impairment or sensory loss can access information and receive communication support. A 2022 report by Healthwatch found 1 in 5 people who need communication support struggled to understand information given by health and care services.
Responding to the update Louise Ansari, chief executive at Healthwatch England, said: "We have been advocating for a stronger Accessible Information Standard (AIS) working with national charities since 2022. Our evidence, which led to a review of the AIS, highlighted the NHS fails to provide healthcare in accessible formats, blocking patients from care and affecting their ability to make informed decisions.
“The revised AIS clarifies that providers and commissioners must have 'due regard' to the standard when providing services but don't have to fully meet it until further legal regulations eventually come into force. We are therefore disappointed that full mandating of the standard is still potentially years off, particularly when it is meant to improve access to healthcare for disabled people and those who have sensory impairments.
“The revised version does contain some positive changes, such as introducing an expectation on NHS and adult social care providers to annually self-assess how well they currently meet the AIS and what action they need to take to fully comply with it. However, the first assessments are not due until March 2027. This slow pace of improvements will mean that many disabled and those will sensory impairments will continue facing challenges to accessing care, often putting their health and wellbeing at risk.
“We acknowledge that services and Integrated Care Boards are grappling with many pressures, including increased patient demand for care and reorganisation, but we urge them to prioritise compliance with AIS as a vital step towards tackling inequalities in access to care.”