Learning from service users about accessibility

Information is collected through the Patient Liaison Service. The service has received calls from patients who need an NHS dentist with disabled access, to people with visual impairments who require audio information. As well as solving the issue for the caller, they then alert the appropriate managers demonstrating that these services are required and if any improvements/adjustments need to be made.

Other methods of improving accessibility include partnership working with various action groups, working with Access officers in District Councils etc and in addition producing guidelines on making patient literature accessible.

The PCT works closely with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Patient and Public Involvement Forum to gather information regarding accessibility issues among other things and then use this information to improve the accessibility to our services. The mechanism for this is attendance at their meetings, listening to discussions, noting concerns, making improvements and then arranging visits to our facilities by them to review the situation.

Working with stakeholders and sharing best practice

Buckinghamshire PCT hosts and participates in the Bucks Disability Employers Network, which meets on a quarterly basis.  The network consists of a diverse group of employers from both the public and private business sectors across Buckinghamshire and provides the facility for the discussion, problem solving, raising of awareness and sharing of best practice including:

• recruitment and retention practices
• new legislation
• training on disability
• grants and resources available

An example from a recent meeting related to Access to Work grants where it was found that not all employers were aware the facility and others had not realised these grants also could be used for staff retention as a result of disability and not just to those commencing employment.

Through close working with existing networks and services in Buckinghamshire members are able to share the positive benefits of joint working, creating a proactive network which is designed to meet local business needs to support and enhance employment opportunities for disabled people.

(www.buckspct.nhs.uk)