NHS England has launched a national call for evidence to support work on the accessible information standard (AIS).

We are inviting organisations across health and adult social care to share relevant evidence, including:

• research, evaluations or reports
• service reviews or audits
• survey results
• data on impacts such as missed appointments, repeat contacts, complaints or patient outcomes linked to accessible information and communication

Evidence should relate to one or more of the AIS strands, such as governance and leadership, data management, workforce and training, communication and engagement, assurance and compliance, or systems and processes.

The information received from this survey will be part of an evidence base that will be used to assess whether the AIS should become a mandatory standard.

The accessible information standard sets out how providers and commissioners of NHS and publicly funded adult social care services should ensure disabled people and people with impairments or sensory loss:

• can access and understand information about NHS and adult social care services
• receive the communication support they need to use those services

All organisations that provide publicly funded NHS care or adult social care must have regard to this standard. Commissioners of NHS or social care must also have regard to this standard. Complying with the standard will also help organisations to meet their obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and other legislation.