The All Wales Standards for Accessible Communication and Information for People with Sensory Loss were launched in December 2013 by the Minister for Health and Social Services, Mark Drakeford AM. The Standards set out the level of service delivery that people with sensory loss should expect to be met with when they need healthcare.
The All Wales Standards also require every Health Board and NHS Trust in Wales to develop an implementation plan that is led by a designated senior officer and sets out clear timescales and actions for delivery. Progress on the delivery of the plan should be monitored regularly and reported formally to the Board.
The All Wales Standards were developed as a result of the ‘Accessible Healthcare for People with Sensory Loss in Wales’ report which required all healthcare organisations to have an ‘...Accessible Information Policy outlining how the communication needs of all patients are to be met, including the needs of people with sensory loss...’.
The Welsh Government’s Programme for Government also outlined a commitment to ensure that all healthcare organisations develop an accessible information policy to address the communication needs of people with sensory loss.
The NHS Centre for Equality and Human Rights (NHS CEHR) worked closely with the Department for Health and Social Services, Action on Hearing Loss Cymru and RNIB Cymru as well as other sensory loss organisations and people with sensory loss to develop the All Wales Standards. You can download the standards below:
The NHS CEHR is required to report annually on progress with the delivery of all the Recommendations set out in the ‘Accessible Healthcare for People with Sensory Loss in Wales’ report. The first report was published in April 2014. You can download a copy Accessible Healthcare for People with Sensory Loss in Wales - accessible version english here.