Joint press release from The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and Surrey Association for Visual Impairment (SAVI).
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For immediate release September 2010.
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Event on September 17.
Unfair treatment
Many blind and partially sighted people from Surrey believe they are being treated unfairly by the NHS when compared to other patients. They feel their safety, confidentiality and reading choices are routinely compromised.
Jean Meyer from Banstead, Surrey is registered blind and in her fifties. Jean can't read standard print. Despite her repeated requests to the NHS for information she can read in large print, size 24, or by email, she has never received written acknowledgment or information in a format she can read.
Jean has no choice but to rely on her children and other people to read to her.
Her GP surgery, eye clinic and mammogram clinic don't supply information she can read. Jean said: "Other service providers, for example BT and the water company supply me with large print bills and statements. I'm disappointed and cross to have never received information that I can read from the NHS."
RNIB research
RNIB research shows 95 per cent of blind and partially sighted people are never asked and rarely receive confidential information from NHS staff in large print, email, Braille or audio. 99 per cent said they didn't want information read to them by other people.
Jean Meyer added: "It's not fair on me or other people when I have to ask them to read my confidential information." At a recent mammogram clinic test, Jean requested her results in size 24 print. Jean said: "At that time I was told I was the only person who had ever requested large print and not to hold my breath. I'm certainly not the only blind or partially sighted person in Surrey who needs it.
"The results came in what I believe was 16 point print accompanied with a leaflet in a similar size. Both were still too small for me to read. On this occasion they tried, but it's like being told, 'well we don't have it in German so here's some French!'
SAVI
The Surrey Association for Visual Impairment (SAVI) has joined forces with RNIB to host a seminar on September 17 at Bourne Hall in Epsom, bringing together blind and partially sighted people, NHS representatives, local politicians and other stakeholders to discuss problems and possible solutions.
Lynsey Brooks, RNIB's Campaign Officer for Surrey said, "The NHS quite rightly deals with the needs of patients who speak other languages, but sadly the same cannot be said of people whose sight problems do not allow them to read standard print. Health service providers are under an obligation to provide patients with equal access to health information. The majority of them are failing to meet that obligation."
Losing Patients
Further research from RNIB's Losing Patients campaign established that 72 per cent of blind and partially sighted people said they are unable to read information from their GP. 81 per cent are unable to read medicine instructions and safety notices.
Lance Clarke the CEO of SAVI, said: "We know only too well how stressful it is for blind and partially sighted people in Surrey when they do not receive confidential health information from the NHS in formats they can access and understand.
He added: "This is unfair especially when there are agencies in Surrey who are able to work with statutory authorities to advise or transcribe information into correct formats such as Braille, large print or audio.
"I am pleased to say that a number of medical establishments do try hard, but others fall well short. Many people are elderly and vulnerable and often live alone. Small, incremental changes to attitude and administration can get this right."
Jonathan Lord
Jonathan Lord, MP for Woking said: "It is a matter of great regret that, all too often, NHS services give health information to blind and partially sighted people in ordinary print, whether or not they are able to read it. On behalf of the more than 2,000 people in Surrey who are registered as blind or partially sighted, I urge local health authorities to give out personal and general health information to the visually impaired in a format that they can access and read independently."
Health service providers failing to provide accessible information are likely to be in breach of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995. The Equalities Act which comes into effect in October this year will strengthen current disability law.
Jean Meyer: "I'm only asking for the same service as other patients receive. I certainly don't want the next generation of blind and partially sighted people to have to suffer the same unacceptable service from the NHS that I've received. I've had good clinical treatment from the NHS; however they appear not to want to write to me in a format I can read because I'm blind."
Ends
For further media information please contact Bill Alker, RNIB Press Office on 020 7391 2223 (out of hours mobile: 07968 482812).
The event is taking place at Bourne Hall, Spring Street, Ewell, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 1UF. On 17 September 2010 between 10am and 12 noon.
The research
RNIB commissioned Dr Foster to investigate the experiences of 600 blind and partially sighted people across the UK who had used NHS services in the last twelve months. The study also investigated the views of healthcare professionals in both primary and secondary care. Dr Foster conducted the study between July and November 2008. The Losing Patients campaign is based on the findings of this research.
Headline findings
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95 per cent of blind and partially sighted people said they were not asked by NHS staff what format they required when they were given information.
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81 per cent said they did not get information about their prescribed medicines, such as dosage instructions and warnings, in a format they could read.
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72 per cent reported the information they received from their GP was not in an accessible format.
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22 per cent said they had missed an appointment because the appointment letter was not in an accessible format.
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Only one per cent of blind and partially sighted people said they wanted written information given via a carer or relative (99 per cent didn't}.
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28 per cent of health professionals wrongly thought blind and partially sighted people wanted information in this way.
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73 per cent of healthcare professionals either said their organisation does not have a clear policy on the provision of accessible information or they did not know if it did.
Further notes to editors
SAVI is the main agency for services for visually impaired adults and children, and deafblind people in Surrey. Lance Clarke CEO SAVI 01372 377701 www.surreywebsight.org.uk
RNIB is the largest charity in the UK supporting people with a sight problems. RNIB Helpline 0303 123 9999.
For more information on RNIB's Losing Patients campaign visit, http://www.rnib.org.uk/losingpatients>
End of news release