About the standard

The accessible information standard has been in force since August 2016 and has been reviewed, updated and re-published in 2025.

NHS England is responsible for setting the standards and approach to the processing of information described within the accessible information standard as it applies to the NHS in England.

The Department of Health and Social Care is responsible for setting the standards as they apply to health services or adult social care services.

About legal duties

The Equality Act 2010 places an anticipatory legal duty on all service providers to make “reasonable adjustments” to avoid putting a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage when compared to a person who is not disabled. The Act details how this duty applies to those organisations providing a public function and explains how the duty, “means service providers and people exercising public functions must anticipate the needs of disabled people and make appropriate reasonable adjustments”. The Act is explicit in that, where the circumstances require it, information should be provided in “an accessible format” as part of ‘reasonable adjustments’ for people who have a disability.

In addition, the Care Act 2014 details specific duties for local authorities with regards to the provision of advice and information, this includes the requirement that, “Information and advice provided under this section must be accessible to, and proportionate to the needs of, those for whom it is being provided.”

The NHS Constitution also states that, “You have the right to be involved in planning and making decisions about your health and care with your care provider or providers, including your end of life care, and to be given information and support to enable you to do this. Where appropriate, this right includes your family and carers.”

By law (section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012), all organisations that provide NHS care or adult social care are expected to follow the Standard.

Organisations that commission NHS care and / or adult social care, for example integrated care boards and local authorities, must also have due regard to this Standard, and ensure that contracts, frameworks and performance management arrangements with provider organisations enable and promote the Standards’ requirements.

Data Alliance Partnership Board

The Data Alliance Partnership Board (DAPB), which holds delegated authority from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has approved changes to the existing information standard for publication under section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

Assurance that this information standard meets the requirements of the Act and is appropriate for the use specified in the specification document has been provided by the Data Standards Assurance Service (DSAS) and endorsed by the Data Alliance Partnership Sub Board (DAPSB).

The information standard comprises the following documents:

An Information Standards Notice (DAPB1605 Amd 86/2022) has been issued as a notification of use and implementation timescales. Please read this alongside the documents for the standard.

Equality and health inequalities statement

Advancing equality of opportunity and addressing health inequalities are core values of NHS England. In developing this standard, we have worked to:

  • reduce health inequalities, both in access to and outcomes from services
  • improve the integration of services for people who are suffering inequality
  • increase equality of opportunity for and foster good relationship among people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 — and those who don’t
  • eliminate discrimination, harassment, and victimisation

You can request the accessible information standard and associated materials in alternative formats, such as easy read or large print, and in different languages. Please call 0300 311 22 33 or email England.AISQueries@nhs.net.

This process is managed by NHS England’s Directorate of Nursing.

Contacts and enquiries

All enquiries regarding implementation of the standard should be directed to NHS England by emailing England.AISQueries@nhs.net.

If you would like to raise a complaint or concern regarding any aspect of NHS care, treatment or service, please contact the provider through their complaints process or through the responsible commissioner for that service (for example, your local authority or integrated care board (ICB).

Find out more about how to complain to the NHS.