Reasonable adjustments
Medwyn Surgery is committed to making sure that everyone can access our services safely, effectively and as independently as possible.
If you have a disability, sensory impairment, learning disability, autism, dementia or another condition that means you need additional support to access healthcare, we can make reasonable adjustments to help.
Reasonable adjustments are changes we can make to remove or reduce barriers you may experience when using our services.
What kind of adjustments can we provide?
Adjustments will depend on your individual needs and may include:
- appointments at quieter times
- help with making or managing appointments
- providing information in an accessible format
- using clear or easy-read information
- arranging a British Sign Language interpreter or other communication support
- allowing additional time for communication or decision-making
- providing a quieter place to wait where possible
- allowing a carer, advocate or supporter to attend with you, where appropriate
- making changes to how we contact or communicate with you
- considering alternative ways for you to access our services where a particular method creates a barrier.
This list is not exhaustive. We will discuss your individual needs with you and consider what adjustments are reasonable and appropriate.
Tell us what you need
You can tell any member of the practice team if you need a reasonable adjustment.
You can also tell us if:
- your needs have changed
- an adjustment we have recorded is no longer required
- a particular adjustment is not working for you
- there is something else we could do to make our services easier for you to access.
You do not always need a formal diagnosis before we consider whether an adjustment may help you.
Recording your reasonable adjustments
Where appropriate, we will record your reasonable adjustment needs in your health record so that practice staff know how best to support you.
The NHS also uses a Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag, which enables important information about reasonable adjustments to be made available to appropriate health and care professionals involved in your care.
This helps reduce the need for you to repeatedly explain your requirements when accessing NHS services.
Information will be recorded and shared in accordance with NHS information governance requirements and data protection law.
Reviewing your needs
Reasonable adjustments are personal to you and may change over time.
We will update your record when you tell us that your needs have changed and may check with you that the adjustments recorded remain appropriate.
If we are unable to provide a particular adjustment, we will explain why and work with you to consider a suitable alternative wherever possible.
Need help?
If you would like to tell us about a reasonable adjustment you need, please contact the practice and speak to a member of our team.
We welcome feedback about accessibility and about any adjustments we provide.