What actions will the Cabinet Secretary take to ensure that all Welsh health boards comply with the All Wales NHS Standards for Communication and Information (2013) and the Equality Act 2010, to ensure that visually impaired patients are able to independently access personal information?
The All Wales Standards for Accessible Communication and Information for People with Sensory Loss set out the standards of service delivery that people with sensory loss should expect when they access healthcare that apply to adults, young people and children and makes recommendations which help the NHS in Wales improve services for patients with sensory loss.
The focus throughout has been on the safety of patients, improving services and the experiences of patients across Wales by using common sense along with good communications skills. One of the standards is that health boards should test systems for reporting concerns and complaints with people with sensory loss to ensure that those systems are accessible and that people can easily access information about how to report these if they wish to do so.
The All Wales Standard for Accessible Communication and Information for People with Sensory Loss are monitored through the NHS Wales Delivery Framework. My officials continue to work with the NHS to improve adherence to the Standards.