Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)!

The aim of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion—and the more than one billion people with disabilities and impairments worldwide.

Here at Shropdoc, accessibility for the patients we work with and for our team members is very important to us.

We aim to meet the needs of employees who may face challenges due to underlying disabilities and find a solution for any digital accessibility issues of patients and users.

Accessibility for Staff

Adaptations are made to ensure accessibility, such as using medical voice dictation software in the contact centre for a team member with wrist-related issues and software that recolours the screen to support visual conditions.

Support is also provided on a case-by-case basis, and recently we worked closely with a member of staff who had suffered a stroke to ensure that, despite mobility issues, they were able to return to work.

Accessibility for Patients

To access the 111 services if you are hearing impaired, patients can use the website here: Get medical help - NHS 111

For those who need urgent medical care but it is not an emergency, they can call NHS 111 using the confidential Relay UK service. This service provides a text-to-speech and speech-to-text translation service. To access the service dial 18001 111 from a textphone or using the Relay UK app.

Within Shropdoc, we also use Language Line Solution, which allows a call to become a three-way conference call with an interpreter asking questions or giving answers in the appropriate language. 

Feedback and service improvements

One way the Clinical Risk team has tried to combat accessibility issues is by offering different options for patients and service users to provide feedback with supporting information.

This is a continuing process that allows us to continue to think and learn about digital access and inclusion.

If you have any feedback or comments about accessibility here at Shropdoc please do feel free to contact Carla Shinton on [email protected]