Updated standards for healthcare in Wales welcome, but more work still to be done

Today the Welsh Government has published the updated and broadened All-Wales Accessible Communication and Information Standards (All-Wales Standards) following a long period of engagement with health boards, disabled people’s organisations and people with sensory loss.

Blind and partially sighted people face serious risks to their health and wellbeing due to a lack of accessible health information. It affects patient safety, independence, privacy and dignity.

The All-Wales Standards were first published in 2013. They clearly set out how NHS Wales health boards and trusts must provide accessible information to patients with communication needs.

Twelve years on, our Make it Make Sense report shows that over half of blind and partially sighted people still regularly receive information from their GP or hospital that they cannot read. The result of this is that one in three have missed a healthcare appointment.

RNIB Cymru cautiously welcomes the updated All-Wales Standards as a step forward, though further work is needed to learn the lessons of the past twelve years and ensure that blind and partially sighted people’s communication needs are consistently met.

Blind and partially sighted people – and people with other communication needs – have a legal right under the Equality Act 2010 to receive information and communications from public services in their required accessible format, such as large print, easy read, email, audio and braille.

For too long these rights have been denied to blind and partially sighted people.

In many cases, they are forced to rely on friends, family members, even strangers to read sensitive medical information for them, undermining their independence and compromising confidentiality.

Inaccessible health information is also contributing to deepening health inequalities and puts people at serious risk of harm.

Blind and partially sighted people tell us that not being able to read their own health information is a huge barrier to making appointments, understanding the results of a test or diagnosis, taking part in screening, taking medication correctly, and preparing for operations or other procedures.

What’s most important is that people with communication needs now receive their personal health information in a format that works for them. The updated Standards need to be implemented rigorously and consistently throughout the health service in Wales – with support from the Welsh Government to make sure this happens.

We look forward to working with NHS health boards and trusts, alongside other key stakeholders to support implementation, and ensure the experiences and needs of blind and partially sighted people are central to the process.