Reasonable Adjustments
The NHS has to make it as easy for disabled people to use health services as it is for people who are not disabled. This is called making reasonable adjustments.
These could be things like:
- Ensuring there is wheelchair access
- Providing easy read appointment letters
- Longer appointments if someone needs more time with a doctor or nurse to make sure they understand the information they are given
- Giving someone the first or last appointment if they find it difficult waiting in busy/noisy areas
Watch this film below about Kareem and his mum Fazilla's experience of reasonable adjustments and the difference it makes to them when reasonable adjustments are offered.
Reasonable adjustments are a legal requirement to make sure health services are accessible to all disabled people. Please watch the below video to find out how a simple reasonable adjustment can make a big difference to a person's experience of quality and access to healthcare.
How can i help make sure these reasonable adjustments are made?
If you support someone with a learning disability please make sure they have good access to healthcare by supporting them to:
- be on the GP learning disability register
- ask their GP practice for additional information adding to their summary care record
- have the right to healthchecks, screening and immunisations
- carry out the actions in their health action plan
Information for healthcare staff
We are trying to ensure that when people with a learning disability attend a healthcare environment that staff are aware if they need to make reasonable adjustments for them.
To do this we are developing a way of putting something on a person's health record which shows that reasonable adjustments may need making. We call this a 'reasonable adjustment flag' and any organisations that are providing care would be able to see the flag, to ensure reasonable adjustments are continued no matter the healthcare environment they may attend.
Easy read information is available about the importance of sharing information about your support needs. View this easy read document.
What digital flagging means for patients
This short film is about how sharing information can help staff in health services know the right way to work with people with a learning disability and/or autism.