Creating systems, procedures and literature that allows your blind and partially sighted patients to access health information is extremely important. Find out why in the sections below.
Why is the accessibility of information an issue for GPs?
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72% of blind and partially sighted people cannot read personal health information provided by their GP. (Reference 14.)
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22% of patients have missed an appointment due to information being sent in a format that they could not read. (Reference 14.)
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Nine out of ten patients say they were not asked by NHS staff about what format they required when they were given information.
Why is it unacceptable to offer patients health information that they unable to read themselves?
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Delivering information in inaccessible formats profoundly compromises patient confidentiality. (Reference 13.)
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The failure to provide accessible information fundamentally weakens patient choice. To make effective choices patients need access to good quality health information in a format that meets their individual needs. (Reference 13.)
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The lack of accessible information can compromise safety and lead to problems with adherence to treatment regimes. It is easy to take medication unsafely. (Reference 13.)
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Inaccessible information causes missed appointments. 22% of patients said that they had missed an appointment due to information being sent in a format they could not read themselves. (Reference 13.)
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The failure to provide information in a format that blind or partially sighted patients can read themselves is likely to be a breach of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 and leaves NHS institutions open to legal challenge. (Reference 13.)
Case study
John is a 54-year-old partially sighted gardener. Six weeks ago, you referred him to a neurologist as you suspected he may have diabetic neuropathy. John missed his appointment and the surgery sent him another letter to re-arrange the appointment. Yet he failed to contact the neurology department, despite the reminder, and no-one has had heard from him since.
Actions for GPs
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Use services, such as RNIB webdocs, to convert Microsoft Word documents into accessible formats, such as large print, audio and Braille.
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Ensure administrators ask all blind and partially sighted patients to request in which format they would prefer to receive their documents.
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Read the Dr Foster report about barriers to health information faced by blind or partially sighted patients, and how you can help overcome it. (Reference 15.) Find out more about the research and our Losing Patients reports.
Facts
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Nearly all (95%) of blind and partially sighted people feel it is important to have health information in a format they can read for themselves, and most healthcare professionals agree. (Reference 13.)
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Only 1% of blind and partially sighted patients say they want information given via a carer or relative, yet 28% of health professionals thought that they did want information conveyed to them in this way. Blind and partially sighted people feel a loss of privacy and independence if they have to rely on someone else to access personal information. (Reference 13.)
Learn more
In 2009, RNIB commissioned Dr Foster Intelligence, to investigate the experiences of blind and partially sighted people who had used NHS services in the last twelve months. (Reference 13.)
The research has highlighted that barriers to health information remain widespread, and that more progress needs to be made to ensure that health information is accessible to blind and partially sighted people. (Reference 13.) It concluded that "The NHS is failing blind and partially sighted patients". Find out more about the research and RNIB's Losing Patients campaign.
Find out more about what you can do... and how we can help