The updated Accessible Information Standard is now available
Accessible Information Standard
The Accessible Information Standard (DAPB1605) aims to ensure that people who have a disability, impairment or sensory loss:
- can access and understand information about NHS and adult social care services
- receive the communication support they need to use those services
This guidance helps NHS and adult social care organisations understand their obligations under the standard and provides advice and resources to help them comply with it.
What has changed?
Changes to the standard include:
- A new and sixth, “review” stage requiring NHS and publicly funded adult social care services to proactively check that patients’ and service users’ needs are up to date in their records and that they are being met. This is in addition to the five stages asking services to identify, record, flag, share, and meet people’s communication needs.
- All health and social care organisations should appoint a senior named role responsible for overseeing the standard is being put into practice.
- Clarifying the role of commissioners, such as Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and councils, who should ensure that providers in their area follow the standard.
- An expectation on all providers and commissioners to identify an AIS lead responsible for ensuring the standard is met as well as an executive-level role holder with responsibility for the standard in their remit.
- An expectation that all NHS and social care organisations assess how well they are meeting the standard. This can be done through a new NHS provider self-assessment tool and the first assessments should be completed by March 2027.
Six things that you should expect from organisations that provide NHS or adult social care:
- You should be asked if you have any communication needs, and asked how these needs can be met
- Your needs should be recorded in a clear and set way.
- Your file or notes should highlight these communication needs so people are aware and know how to meet them.
- Information about your communication needs should be shared with other providers of NHS and adult social care, when they have consent or permission to do so.
- Information should be delivered to you in a way you can access and understand, with the option for communication support if needed.
- All organisations must have a senior AIS lead and must review how they are meeting the Accessible Information Standard. They should use the Self Assessment Frameworks to monitor how well they are implementing the AIS.
What do I do if my communications needs are not met?
If you believe your local health service is failing to meet your communications needs, there are a number of things you can do:
- Share your experience with us or the Care Quality Commission, which inspects services, as they could use it to build a picture of problems with certain services and take further action.
- Make a formal complaint via our Independent Health Complaints Advocacy Service.
- Contact your local councillor or local MP.
Support
You can also contact the following organisations for support you if you have a disability or sensory impairment:
RNIB
For people who have a visual impairment.
0303 123 9999 (Monday to Friday 9am – 6pm)
RNID
For people who have a hearing impairment.
0808 808 0123
Sign Health
For deaf people.
078600 33214
Sense
Support for people who are deafblind.
