TY - JOUR T1 - The Accessible Information Standard: action and reaction JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 64 LP - 65 DO - 10.3399/bjgp16X683545 VL - 66 IS - 643 AU - Imran Rafi AU - Ralph Sullivan AU - Nigel Mathers Y1 - 2016/02/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/66/643/64.abstract N2 - Accessible information is defined as ‘... information which is able to be read or received and understood by the individual or group for which it is intended’ .1 Many GP practices already have mechanisms in place such as auditory loops for the hard of hearing or the provision of interpreters for non-English speaking patients. However, there may be many patients with whom we could communicate more effectively but, currently, we do not meet their needs.The Equality Act 2010 requires that all service providers make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to enable disabled people to access their services. It defines a person with a disability as someone that has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the person’s ability to carry out day-to-day activities.By introducing The Accessible Information Standard (AIS), NHS England aims to improve the provision of accessible information and communication support to patients, service users, carers, and parents with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss. This includes those with learning disabilities,2,3 those who are blind or with a visual loss, those who are deaf, or have significant hearing impairment, or are deafblind. However, this list could be much broader and include, for example, those affected by stroke.As set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2012, compliance with information standards is mandatory upon NHS and adult social care bodies, … ER -