Accessible Information Standard
Accessible Information Standard (AIS) - Everyone has the right to accessible information and communication support.
At Bromley Healthcare we provide a range of community healthcare services and believe it’s essential that any information we share with you is clear and in a format that you understand.
The Accessible Information Standard (AIS) means that all people who use a health and social care service have the right to accessible information, and communication support when using such services. In addition to this, all services must keep a record of each person’s needs and it needs to be filed in a way that’s comprehensive and accessible.
Measurements of AIS
There are five core requirements of the Standard that we must adhere to for all of our services users. They are:
Identifying needs – any communication needs relating to a disability, impairment, sensory loss or learning disability are identified when we first meet or via assessment
Recording needs – these needs are captured on our clinical record system in a clear, unambiguous and standardised way
Flagging needs – the recorded needs are highly visible on our clinical record system and prompt staff to act whenever they look at the notes
Sharing needs – we include information about any communication needs when sharing information with other services
Meeting needs – we take steps to ensure you receive the communication support you need and provide information you can access and understand
It is our responsibility, as a provider of NHS community services to follow the Standard and in order to meet the needs of our service users and their families and carers, we offer the following:
- British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting in appointments
- Braille
- Easy Read
- Alternative communication to support deaf / Deaf, blind, deafblind on request
If you require any of our leaflets or printed information to be provided to you in a different format, please raise this with your clinician at your next appointment – your needs will be recorded to support you.
As well as providing information in different formats, we also offer interpreting services to our service users whose first language is not English. If you would like any of our information or leaflets in your language, please ask your clinician.
If you would like to get in touch with us about our information, please email: bromh.contact@nhs.net