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Doubly disabled: Equality for disabled people in the new NHS - access to services

Document type:

Publication
Author:

Department of Health, NHS Executive
Published date:

1 January 1999
Primary audience:

Professionals
Gateway reference:

1999
Series number:

HSC 1999/093
Pages:

95
Copyright holder:

Crown Copyright

The 'new NHS' commits us all to an inclusive health service which meets the needs of all its citizens. This guide helps to make this a reality. It provides essential background and guidance for senior NHS managers with specific responsibility for advising on access for disabled patients to services and in employment. It can also be used by all staff for information on general disability issues.

Download Doubly disabled: equality for disabled people in the new NHS - access to services (PDF, 733K)

Service providers and employers in the NHS will wish to consider the implications for them of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and of any other relevant legislation. They are also advised to seek their own legal advice.

Each section of the guide includes suggestions for specific issues that may require particular attention.

Section 1 begins by setting the policy context. NHS managers will be aware of the general context of health care policy. Alongside these requirements are those of the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act. This is a wide ranging Act that gives disabled people new legally enforceable rights. The Act covers all walks of life and has implications for the Health Service, both as a service provider and as an employer.
Section 2 considers approaches that might be adopted to ensure that the NHS provides equal access to services for disabled people. A local strategy needs to be developed, and there are particular strengths in designating a person or persons as a disability services adviser. This person can assume responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on services and policies, and for developing the necessary liaison both within and outside the NHS.
Section 3 examines some of the issues that need to be addressed around awareness in particular the way NHS staff interact with disabled people. Especially helping everyone to improve their communication with disabled people. The use of language and terminology is examined, and the Section promotes improve awareness of disability in general and specific situations.
Section 4 addresses the range of issues that need to be tackled, and provides pointers to more detailed information and specifications. In parallel with this guide, the NHS Executive is developing an Access Audit Template, which will enable detailed access audits to be carried out on NHS buildings. The environments provided by buildings and other infrastructure can be highly disabling. The performance of the NHS in this regard is improving, but there is still much that can be done to improve physical access.
Section 5 addresses these and considers ways in which appointments, hospital admissions and discharges, outpatient and primary care consultations, can be organised more accessibly for disabled patients. It is not only buildings which can be disabling. The same can be true of procedures and routine practices.

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