Trust commissions AccessAble to provide patient accessibility information

Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust has invested in AccessAble; a world leader in the provision of accessibility information, to provide their patients with vital details on how to access services easily.

The Trust has worked with AccessAble to create multiple Detailed Access Guides for facilities, wards and departments at all of their services and sites. As part of this work, AccessAble gave Trust sites a full accessibility survey and recommended works to improve accessibility. The outcomes of their suggestions will continue to inform a rolling programme of site maintenance to further improve services.

The Guides provide detailed facts, figures and photographs to help patients, visitors and staff plan their journeys to and around the Trust facilities, covering everything from parking facilities and assistive listening devices, to walking distances and accessible toilets.

Patient accessibility needs are different, which is why having detailed, accurate information is so important. For some patients attending services for necessary health care can create anxiety and stress, by providing them with comprehensive information regarding access the patient experience can be improved.

The information provided eases the physical and mental barriers for patients and visitors who need to visit Trust services.

Anna Nelson, Chief Executive of AccessAble, said, “‘We are thrilled to partner with Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust. Visiting an NHS service can be a daunting experience and concerns around accessibility only compound this. Our Detailed Access Guides aim to let people know what a service will be like, so they can feel confident the space will work for them or enable them to have a conversation around reasonable adjustments. I would like to sincerely thank the Trust for working with us and sharing our vision of an NHS where disabled people and carers are able to access excellent care, independently and with dignity.”

Rob Atkinson, Deputy Director of Estates at Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, said, “We are delighted to have worked with AccessAble to produce Detailed Access Guides for our main health facilities across the Trust. Patient care is paramount and it is incredibly important to us that we meet the needs of everyone who visits our services. We are ambitious about creating an environment that is as supportive and equitable as possible. The information and guides that AccessAble have developed will help our patients, visitors and staff visit our Trust sites with confidence and improve their experience."

To view the guides and information on accessibility of the Trust services visit the website here.