ACC_17AchievingAccess and Flexibility
Embed Reasonable Adjustments for People with a Disability, including a Learning Disability
Summary
Commit to making reasonable adjustments for people a disability and ensure staff receive training on practical implementation.
Supporting information
Reasonable adjustments -- are essential for equitable care. , and Ongoing staff training builds understanding and confidence to meet legal and ethical duties.
The Equality Act 2010 requires healthcare providers to make reasonable adjustments, yet many disabled patients still face barriers to equitable care. Embedding adjustments as routine practice rather than exceptional responses ensures disabled patients receive care that meets their needs.
Approaches to implementation:
- Train all staff on legal duties and practical examples of reasonable adjustments, for example longer appointments, easy-read materials, or flexible communication
- Co-produce a practice statement on reasonable adjustments and display it for patients and staff
- Include adjustment flags, for example NHS England’s Reasonable Adjustment Flag, or alerts in your clinical system.
- Create a practice register of adjustments for individual patients
- Develop partnerships with patients with a disability and disability organisations for guidance and feedback
Key benefits: Fulfils legal obligations whilst improving care quality for disabled patients, reduces health inequalities experienced by people with a disability, and creates a practice culture where adjustments are normalised rather than seen as special treatment.
Resources
Links open on other organisations' websites.