People with a physical disability, sensory disability, learning disability or long-term condition such as dementia are entitled to reasonable adjustments. Reasonable adjustments are individual and should be tailored to the person.
These adjustments remove barriers that people face. For example:
- providing information in an easy read format
- installing a ramp
- providing a longer appointment time
- providing a quiet room for people to wait in.
Tips for people who need reasonable adjustments
- Think about what reasonable adjustments you need and write them down.
- Ask for your reasonable adjustments when making a health or care appointment.
- Ask for your reasonable adjustments to be recorded and flagged.
- Use the words ‘I need reasonable adjustments’ when asking for them. Then explain what they are or what is difficult.
- Give consent for your reasonable adjustments information to be shared with other health and care staff.
- If you are told you cannot have reasonable adjustments, ask why. You can challenge the decision.
- Check the reasonable adjustments you need are recorded, flagged and up to date.
Reasonable Adjustments Digital Flag
The Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag (RADF) Information Standard mandate applies to all health and publicly funded social care.
Organisations should ensure that they identify the disability and associated reasonable adjustment requirements of their existing registered or known patients or service users during routine appointments or interactions with the service.
All patients with a learning disability and/or patients who are autistic must have a Flag on their record to indicate this along with their reasonable adjustment needs, which is visible to all those who are involved in the care of the patient.
Our friends at Essex Carers Network have co-produced a factsheet about the Digital Flag. Visit their website to read more, including an Easy Read guide, which has been created by Ace Anglia.
This information is relevant to people living in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. We are keen to hear examples of what has worked and what hasn’t worked around reasonable adjustments. Please do contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service with feedback.
Visit the NHS Digital website for full details about how the Digital Flag must be used by health and care organisations, including a log of changes to the guidelines and specification.
