The Health Sector

Research indicates that the health sector is still struggling to keep up with the demands of their disabled customers, both at the local GP level and in the hospital setting.

Over 95% of patients never received health advice leaflets in preferred format such as Braille or large print (1)

96% of patients never received letters from GP’s in preferred format (1)

97% of patients never received prescription in preferred format. (1)

For hospital outpatients, only one tenth received an appointment letter in preferred format

45% of outpatients found signage in hospital unhelpful. (1)

For inpatients, 96% did not receive letters of admission or any other documentation relating to their stay in hospital in a preferred format (1)

Of the 35% who had to fill in the forms as part of the admission process, 76% could not read the forms. (1)

Only 16% of deafblind patients were offered longer appointments to allow for the use of alternative communication methods (2)

58% of deafblind respondents did not receive letters or appointment cards from any NHS organisation in a format that they could access themselves. (2)

Appointments are being missed because information is not received in an accessible format; inaccessible labeling means that up to 270,000 people with a combined sight and hearing loss may be at risk when using prescribed medicine. (2)

If your organisation operates in the health sector, contact us today for a free no obligation health sector service review.

Sources:
Access for All Report – www.guidedogs.org.uk
Cause and Cure report -