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Content Article
Learning Disability Week is the third week of June every year. The event, organised by the charity Mencap, is an opportunity to raise awareness about different learning disabilities and challenge some of the barriers people who have learning disabilities face. According to Mencap, a learning disability is a person's reduced intellectual ability, meaning they can face difficulty with everyday activities. People with a learning disability can sometimes need extra support to learn new skills, understand complicated information or interact with other people. It can be particularly challenging for people with learning disabilities and their families when accessing healthcare services. To mark Learning Disability Week, we are sharing 18 resources, blogs and reports from the hub for patients, their families and healthcare professionals on breaking down these barriers. 1 Exploring the inequalities of women with learning disabilities deciding to attend and then accessing cervical and breast cancer screening, using the Social Ecological Model Women with learning disabilities are less likely to access cervical and breast cancer screening when compared to the general population. In this study, the Social Ecological Model was used to examine the inequalities faced by women with learning disabilities in accessing cervical and breast cancer screening in England. The authors suggest that multiple methods to reduce the inequalities faced by women with learning disabilities are needed, and that these can be achieved through reasonable adjustments. 2 Pharmacists can do more to bridge the safety gaps for people with learning disabilities People with learning disabilities are more likely to be taking multiple medicines, but labels are not designed with them in mind. This article in the Pharmaceutical Journal looks at a project run by a team at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The team ran exploratory workshops to listen to how people with learning disabilities engaged with information on medicines at home, at the doctors and at the pharmacy. The project highlighted that it is time to move away from standard labels and look towards more personalised medicine labels, actively promoting ways to support people with learning disabilities in taking their medicines. 3 Exploring deep sedation at home to support people with learning disabilities to access medical investigations with minimal distress In this blog, Mandy Anderton, a Clinical Nurse specialising in learning disability, explains how they are using shared decision making and reasonable adjustments to implement a new care pathway, where patients with a learning disability needing to undergo a medical investigation can receive deep sedation within their own home. Working with patients, carers, relatives, anaesthetists and others, the aim is to improve access to important medical investigations with minimal distress, where other avenues have been exhausted. 4 NHS England: Ask Listen Do – feedback, concerns and complaints Ask Listen Do resources are designed to support organisations to listen, learn from and improve the experiences of children and adults who are autistic or have a learning disability, their families and carers, and make it easier for people, families and paid carers to give feedback, raise concerns and complain. 5 NHS England: Guidance to support implementation of the Mental Capacity Act in acute trusts for adults with a learning disability This guidance supports trusts and community providers in enabling frontline staff to fulfil their legal requirements under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005, specifically when supporting people with a learning disability. Leadership within Trusts have been asked to ensure they understand the guidance, take the actions indicated and make these resources available to all frontline staff. 6 Tommy Jessop: Why I investigated hospital care for people like me People with a learning disability are more than twice as likely to die from avoidable causes than the rest of the population. Actor Tommy Jessop and BBC Panorama investigated some of the stories of families who say they were let down by their medical care. 7 How can GP practices help improve health outcomes for people with learning disabilities? In this Patient Safety Learning interview, Mandy Anderton explains some of the barriers people with a learning disability face in accessing safe care and how adjustments can be made within GP practices to improve outcomes. Mandy lists national improvements that she believes would reduce health inequalities in this area. 8 Making reasonable adjustments for patients with a learning disability is G.R.E.A.T. Developed by David Havard, this poster shows a number of ways in which reasonable adjustments can easily be made for patients with a learning disability. 9 HSSIB: Caring for adults with a learning disability in acute hospitals The aim of this investigation and report is to help improve the inpatient care of adults with a known learning disability in acute hospital settings. It focuses on people referred urgently for hospital admission from a community setting, such as a person’s home or residential home. 10 Video: The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism This animation aims to help staff and employers across health and social care understand Oliver's Training and why it is so vitally important. It was co-designed and co-produced with autistic people and people with a learning disability. Oliver McGowan died aged 18 in 2017 after being given antipsychotic medication to which he had a fatal reaction. He was given the medication despite his own and his family's assertions that he could not be given antipsychotics, and the fact that this was recorded in his medical records. The animation tells his story and highlights the increased risks facing people with learning disabilities and autism when accessing healthcare. 11 Palliative Care for People with Learning Disabilities The Palliative Care for People with Learning Disabilities (PCPLD) is a charity created to ensure that patients with learning disabilities receive the coordinated support they need throughout their life. The PCPLD Network brings together service providers, people with a learning disability and carers working for the benefit of individuals with learning disabilities who have palliative care needs. 12 Nobody left behind: Improving the health of people with learning disabilities and reducing inequalities across primary care Mandy Anderton talks in depth about the cross-system programme they launched in Salford to improve the health of people with learning disabilities and reduce inequalities across primary care. Mandy shares their award-winning poster, summarising the programme’s activities and outcomes, and gives her top tips for delivering a successful patient safety improvement project. 13 Reasonable adjustments and designing services for patients and people with learning disabilities Caring for people with learning disabilities in an acute hospital setting can be challenging, especially if that patient has transitioned from children’s services to adult services. The experience in children’s acute care differs to adult acute care; this difference in processes of care can cause great anxiety for the patient and their family and carers. The reasonable adjustments that were perhaps made and sustained in children’s services may now not exist. The purpose of this blog is to demonstrate the importance for services to be designed around patients’ needs with patients, families and carers. If we get this right, the quality of care given will be improved, patient satisfaction increases and, in turn, a reduction in patient harm. 14 Cervical screening for people with learning disabilities: Learning resource for sample takers (NHS Wessex Cancer Alliance) Cervical cancer is preventable. By 2040 the NHS in England is aiming for a cervical cancer incidence rate of below 4 per 100,000 women (elimination status). To achieve this, we need to increase HPV vaccination rates and improve attendance for routine cervical screening particularly in younger people and underserved communities including patients with learning disabilities. This learning resource from the NHS Wessex Cancer Alliance explains the misconceptions and barriers to cervical screening, the consent and best interest decisions, and the role of the sample taker and the reasonable adjustments that can be made. 15 Safety spotlight: Mothers with a learning disability - Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigations (MNSI) Maternity care should be responsive to every woman’s needs. This Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigation (MNSI) safety spotlight focuses on mothers with a learning disability. 16 HSSIB investigation. Insulin: supporting safe self-administration for patients in the community with a disability Many people with diabetes manage and administer their own insulin, either by injection or using a combined monitor/pump device (a hybrid closed loop system). However, a disability or impairment may affect their ability to safely manage their own insulin if they are not supported. This can lead to short-term and long-term health problems, which can be life threatening. This Health Services Safety Investigation Body (HSSIB) investigation explored the the following areas in relation to the patient safety issue: supporting the development of people’s competency – that is, their skills, experience, knowledge and ability – to manage insulin recognising and responding when people’s circumstances change, such as deterioration in a disability assessment of people’s mental capacity to make decisions in relation to insulin. 17 Learning Together - A review of the quality of care provided to adults with a learning disability who were admitted to hospital acutely unwell The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) reviewed the care of adults with a diagnosed learning disability who attended/were admitted to hospital as an emergency between 1 July and 30 September 2024. The recommendations highlight areas that are suitable for regular local clinical audit and quality improvement initiatives by those providing care to this group of patients. 18 Voices for Safety podcast: Unequal cancer care for people with a learning disability in the UK This episode of Voices for Safety explores a critical patient safety issue: the inequalities people with a learning disability face when accessing cancer care. Host Dr Louise Gorman and Dr Oliver Kennedy explains how they are less likely to be referred for specialist tests, more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, and around half as likely to receive treatment, resulting in much shorter survival times. They explore why these gaps exist – from communication challenges and diagnostic overshadowing to systemic barriers in screening and treatment – and discuss what needs to change across prevention, diagnosis, and care to create a more equitable system. Do you have a resource or story to share about learning disabilities? Could your insights or experiences help improve patient safety? Leave a comment below (join the hub for free first) or contact us at [email protected]. -
News ArticleIt is a revolution that might just save the NHS – and the high street. Imagine being able to have your eyes tested, mole examined or get an appointment with a consultant without going to your local hospital – and maybe fit in some shopping or a cinema visit afterwards. That, increasingly, is what people in Barnsley are doing after an unprecedented relocation of medical services from the district general hospital into a purpose-built outpatients centre in the Alhambra shopping centre, which is getting a new lease of life thanks to the experiment. Those involved say the initiative – the first of its kind in the NHS – is trailblazing and revolutionary. After a recent visit, Wes Streeting, the health secretary, described it as “really inspiring”. He said: “What we’re seeing right here in the heart of Barnsley town centre is the future of the NHS.” The outpatients centre has been created as a result of a collaboration between Barnsley hospital NHS foundation trust and the town’s Labour-run council. Hundreds of people a week are visiting it to have tests or treatment, including minor operations,for example to treat cataracts, blocked tear ducts or ingrowing eyelashes. Soon the number will rise to 1,000 or more. It gives patients easier access to a range of non-urgent services than at the hospital on the town’s outskirts, where parking is limited. Through the extra footfall it is generating, it is also boosting custom for shops, cafes, restaurants and leisure facilities. “It’s about having your mammogram while your husband wanders around at Sports Direct, or meeting your friend for a coffee after a dermatology appointment where someone looked at your rash,” says Michael Brown, the architect who designed the new facility. The outpatient centre’s location is proving a hit with patients, partly because it is a quick walk from the bus and rail station, says Alan Heathcote, Barnsley hospital’s project manager. “Patient feedback has been very positive. And the themes are consistent: easier access, a better location, less walking, shorter waits and no need to battle for hospital parking”, he says. Parking near the Alhambra is plentiful and cheap. The experience of the CDC so far suggests that offering care in a town centre location has helped to reduce “DNAs” – patients who don’t show up – by 24%. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 16 April 2026
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Content ArticleThis Health Service Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) investigation focuses on how the health needs of people in prison are assessed and the provision of safe living conditions for people in prison who use a wheelchair or have mobility issues. This investigation explored how healthcare provision for a whole prison’s population is assessed and commissioned using health needs assessments. How outdated assessments may present a patient safety risk through mismatched staffing skill mix and services that don’t match the patient’s needs. These risks may result in physical injuries, psychological distress and dignity violations, each of which can impact on patient wellbeing. It looked at challenges related to this approach, cost implications of the current system and ongoing developments. Disability access within prisons is complicated by the original design and purpose of prison buildings. Some of the prison estate dates back as far as 1800, making adaptations and provision for wheelchair users, for example, difficult. The investigation explored the prevalence of this issue, the impact on people in prison and potential areas for improvement. Findings The investigation explored two main themes: health needs assessments and access for physically disabled people within prisons. These themes were identified during the evidence gathering phase for the three previous HSSIB reports in this series. The findings have been separated into these two themes and are listed below: Health needs assessments (HNAs) The current process of developing an HNA for a prison population, which are generally conducted at most every 3 years, means that HNAs are frequently out of date by the time they inform commissioning decisions. There is often a delay in prison healthcare providers being made aware of likely changes to the prison population by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). This can impact on providers’ ability to ensure the required healthcare provision is in place to serve the new population. Outdated HNAs lead to mismatched healthcare provision, forcing providers to submit business cases for additional services or absorb the financial impact of changes to their services. The business case processes were slow and did not support the needs of a rapidly changing prison population, resulting in services that may pose patient safety risks due to mismatched healthcare services, incorrect staff skill mix requiring retraining, recruitment, and removal/addition of new services. HNAs were commissioned by NHS England regional commissioning teams and did not include social care requirements as this is commissioned by local authorities, which made planning and provision of social care difficult and often resulted in delays in care. In response to limitations in the current HNA process, some regions had introduced alternative approaches, including digital data dashboards and artificial‑intelligence‑enabled tools. Different approaches to assessing healthcare requirements for prison populations contributed to variation in how healthcare services were commissioned and delivered across the prison estate. Stakeholder engagement in assessing prison population health requirements was limited; local authorities and other relevant bodies were rarely consulted, contrary to guidance. Physical disability access Wheelchair users experienced harm and dignity concerns, including injuries from unsafe chair-to-chair transfers and deteriorating mental health caused by being housed in inappropriate accommodation. The number of wheelchair users in prisons is increasing, and many prisons cannot easily accommodate wheelchair users or people with mobility issues. None of the prisons visited had enough wheelchair-accessible cells. In some regions there were none. Accessible cells are sometimes located only on vulnerable prisoner wings, potentially wrongly associating wheelchair users with that cohort of prisoners. The current system for gathering information on the physical accommodation needs of people in prison is ineffective; this can impact on the ability to place people in appropriate accommodation. HSSIB makes the following safety recommendations HSSIB recommends that HM Prison and Probation Service, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Care, formalises arrangements for alerting healthcare commissioners and providers to changes in prison populations likely to impact on healthcare provision requirements. This is to ensure that healthcare commissioners and providers can plan for changes to healthcare services that are necessary to meet the changing needs of the prison population. HSSIB recommends that the Department of Health and Social Care works with local authorities to redesign how the health and social care needs of prisons’ populations are assessed. This is to ensure that appropriate services are commissioned to meet the needs of people in prison and prevent possible delays in care. HSSIB recommends that HM Prison and Probation Service reviews and amends its information gathering processes for accommodation requirements for wheelchair users and people with mobility issues, to identify and mitigate risks for people whose accommodation does not meet their needs. This is to enable and support the effective identification of appropriate prison accommodation for these groups.
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News Article
Digital health equity gaps remain, finds WHO research
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
People with greater health needs and language barriers still struggle to use digital health services and technologies, according to research led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Public Health Wales. The scoping review found that these groups experience difficulties accessing technology because of limited access, low digital literacy and services being poorly adapted to diverse needs. It also identified that inequities in digital infrastructure between regions risk creating uneven access to innovation. Dr Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, director of health systems at WHO/Europe, said: “One of our main objectives with this new review was to understand what exactly drives inequity in digital health, and how equity is incorporated into regulation, implementation and evaluation processes globally. “One of the key takeaways is that equity in digital health cannot be achieved through isolated actions but requires a coordinated, whole-system approach to ensure equitable regulation, implementation and evaluation of digital health.” The scoping review covers literature published between 2015 and 2024, assessing 154 articles to identify where good practices and persistent gaps exist. While equity is increasingly referenced in digital health strategies, it often lacks operational standards to guide its inclusion or mechanisms enabling governments to provide oversight, risking the benefits of digital health and AI being unevenly distributed. Dr David Novillo Ortiz, regional adviser for data, AI and digital health at WHO/Europe, said: “Equity should never be treated as an afterthought in the development and implementation of digital health technologies. “If someone in a rural area cannot access a telehealth consultation because it requires high-speed internet that is unavailable in their village, then innovation is failing the very people it should serve.” Read full story Source: Digital Health, 23 March 2026 -
Content ArticleDigital health has the potential to improve healthcare delivery and population health outcomes. To ensure equitable benefits, its development and implementation must address potential health inequities arising from biased technologies and systemic factors. This scoping review used a sociotechnical lens to examine how equity is considered in digital health regulation, implementation and evaluation within the WHO European Region. Equity is increasingly acknowledged in digital health, but its integration into practice remains inconsistent. Regulatory frameworks primarily emphasise safety, privacy and performance, with limited focus on inclusion of underserved populations or adaptability to low resource settings. Implementation strategies often overlook structural barriers. Standardised equity metrics and robust bias auditing for artificial intelligence-driven technologies are lacking. The review highlighted the need for an equity-by-design approach to embed equity throughout the digital health life cycle. Advancing equity requires inclusive governance, participatory design and cross-sectoral collaboration. Recommendations include establishing a shared understanding of equitable digital health, integrating equity metrics into maturity models, and reinforcing regulation, governance and sustainable financing.
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Content ArticleFor many people, accessing care through general practice can feel like opening the door to a maze. Equally, GPs find themselves in a tangled web of administrative burdens, mounting time pressures and are navigating a maze of referrals to get patients specialist help when they need it. In this report, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Patients Association to highlight how general practice can be made truly accessible and navigable for all. 1. Every patient should find the NHS easy to navigate The NHS must provide clear and consistent information to support patients as active partners in decisions about their healthcare, including knowing where to go to get help. Patients and GPs must be equal partners in co-designing care pathways so that they reflect their real experiences and needs and are easier for everyone to navigate. Patients with complex health or communication needs must be equally supported to navigate NHS services and participate as partners in decisions about their care. 2. Every patient should be able to see their GP when they need to Governments must set out clear plans to train, employ and retain enough GPs so that patients can access care from their GP when they need it, addressing both the workforce numbers, the employment structures and funding models that determine where and how GP’s can work. To make it easier for patients to see a GP who they know and knows them, practices should be resourced to offer continuity of care. 3. Every patient should be able to access their information and track referrals via user-friendly systems Patients and GPs must be equal partners in the design of simpler, user-friendly systems which allow patients to see key information about their care, including being able to easily track specialist referrals. This can only be achieved with significant government investment in systems that are easier to use, better connected, and that reduce administrative burden. A diverse and representative group of patients must be active and equal partners in the co-production and review of the systems, including those who cannot access online systems to mitigate digital exclusion.
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News ArticleHospital staff asked a teenage boy to tell his deaf mother that her father might die, according to the findings of an ombudsman. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman said University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Trust failed to follow national guidance, by repeatedly using children to interpret critical medical information for their deaf family members. Alan Graham, who was born deaf and used British Sign Language (BSL) as his first language, died in September 2021 after being treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. His daughter, Jennifer Petty, who is also deaf, complained about her father's care. The NHS trust apologised adding "we did not get things right". The 52-year-old also raised the issue of hospital staff using her children as interpreters. The investigation by the ombudsman found the concerns she raised caused significant distress and affected the family's ability to grieve. During an 11-week period in hospital, professional BSL interpreters were provided on only three occasions, the ombudsman found. Instead staff regularly relied on Petty's son and daughter, who was 12, to translate complex medical information, including details about the 75-year-old's condition. The 52-year-old said the situation was deeply upsetting for the whole family and it was "totally unacceptable" that her children were placed in the position of delivering bad news about their grandfather's condition. "My children just wanted to visit their grandad and be there for him as family members but they were constantly being asked to translate by the staff," she said. "Having to deliver the bad news about my dad's prognosis was extremely upsetting for all of us." The ombudsman said the trust did not consistently make reasonable adjustments for a deaf patient and his family, despite clear requirements set out in national guidance. Read full story Source: BBC News, 11 February 2026 Further reading on the hub: Top picks: 11 resources to support people with hearing loss or deafness
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Content ArticleNHS England (NHSE) has launched a national Call for Evidence to support ongoing work on the Accessible Information Standard (AIS). The information received from their survey will be part of an evidence base that will be used to assess whether the AIS should be made a mandatory. They invite submissions of research, evaluations and surveys to support this activity. This request for information is targeted at organisations. These submissions will complement other evidence that is being collated to inform next steps for AIS implementation. Deadline: 11 February 2026 Find out more via the link below.
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Content ArticleThis case study is one in a set of patient safety ‘how we acted on patient safety issues you recorded’ case studies which show the direct action taken in response to patient safety events recorded by organisations, staff and the public, and how their actions support the NHS to protect patients from harm. The National Patient Safety Team identified a risk of harm from locked community public access defibrillator (CPAD) cabinets. CPADs are stored in numerous locations to allow members of the public to provide lifesaving defibrillation in the event of an out of hospital cardiac arrest. Most CPADs are kept in locked cabinets and require a 4-digit code to unlock the cabinet and release the CPAD. The code is usually provided by the ambulance service during a 999 telephone call. Several reports were reviewed where members of the public, who had been guided to a CPAD, could not get the unlock code or the incorrect code was held by the ambulance control centre. Working with NHS England cardiology colleagues, the National Patient Safety Team liaised with relevant stakeholders including the ambulance services in England, the Resuscitation Council (RCUK) and the British Heart Foundation (BHF), who maintain detailed mapping of CPADs and have researched their use. Discussions centred on the issues raised by our initial findings, such as why some cabinets are kept locked, how best to maintain data on CPAD access and use and how best to standardise an approach which would reduce delays in access. The outcome of these discussions highlighted the establishment of a National Defibrillator Network (The Circuit) and evidence from The Circuit showed that less than 1% of unlocked cabinets are vandalised, which is less than for locked cabinets. Whilst work on this issue is ongoing, a consensus statement has been issued by key stakeholders (NHS England, BHF, RCUK, St John Ambulance and the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives) which recommends “public access defibrillators should be placed in unlocked cabinets allowing immediate access in an emergency”.
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Steph O'Donohue is the Founder of TIGER UK—a social enterprise set up to help improve patient experiences of gynaecological care through collaboration. In this blog, Steph says that Cervical Cancer Prevention Week is an opportunity to validate and help improve patient experiences. She calls for more information to be shared with both patients and doctors that helps to increase compassion, understanding and accessibility. It's Cervical Cancer Prevention Week and the drive to increase screening uptake has been visible through online posts and campaigns. This is critical work, but I can't help but notice the lack of emphasis on patient experience. The statistics, clinical explanations and even comedic memes have been plentiful this year, but what about the reassurance? What about the acknowledgement that it's not as simple as 'make sure you go — it could save your life' for many people? These procedures are really important but they can also feel exposing, embarrassing, triggering and distressing for some people. It's important that we not only acknowledge these valid experiences, but that proactive support from providers is abundant. Patients need to know they will be met with compassion and kindness. I came across a wonderful post by Dr Valerie Ademisoye on Instagram. She acknowledged the worry some people have in attending, and shared four tips for making smear tests easier. It was the most patient-centred post I had seen during this campaign week. It was empowering and empathetic. It offered practical advice. Dr Aziza Sesay has since posted with similar helpful and trusted advice. These messages are important. In an ideal world though patients shouldn't have to be empowered to know how to ask for adjustments that would make cervical screenings easier. Instead, every service provider would ask the right questions, and put the right things in place to make sure that person feels safe and comfortable. Otherwise there is an unfair burden on patients, and those who are less informed (through no fault of their own) are potentially less likely to have positive experiences. Next year I would love to see more of an emphasis on support and reassurance, including: Practical examples from healthcare professionals who have worked in partnership with patients to understand how to improve experiences of cervical screening, so others can learn from this. Leaders highlighting the importance of trauma informed training (especially for anyone performing vaginal access procedures). Sharing of resources to help healthcare professionals support survivors of sexual violence and abuse who may be feeling particularly anxious about their appointment. Local service providers proactively inviting people who feel unsure about attending to call and have an informal, no pressure chat to see how/if they can support. More information for doctors and patients to support accessibility needs. For example, how to request translation services, or how people with a learning disability or physical disability can be better supported before, during and after a smear test. Information about how trans men and non-binary people assigned female at birth who are registered with a GP as male can opt-in for screening. Information about who is eligible for at-home testing. Preventing cervical cancer isn't just about explaining the risks of not being screened and encouraging people to book an appointment. It is about making sure that every patient considering having a cervical screening is supported throughout to have the most positive and dignified experience possible. Further reading on the hub: Top picks: 10 resources about improving access to cervical screening Have your say Are you a healthcare professional who works in women’s health or cancer services? Share your practical examples of how you have improved cervical screening. Are you a patient? Perhaps you have an experience of cervical screening or cervical cancer that you would like to share? We would love to hear from you! Comment below (register as a hub member for free first) Get in touch with us directly to share your insights -
Content ArticleCervical cancer is preventable. By 2040 the NHS in England is aiming for a cervical cancer incidence rate of below 4 per 100,000 women (elimination status). To achieve this, we need to increase HPV vaccination rates and improve attendance for routine cervical screening particularly in younger people and underserved communities including patients with learning disabilities. This learning resource from the NHS Wessex Cancer Alliance explains the misconceptions and barriers to cervical screening, the consent and best interest decisions, and the role of the sample taker and the reasonable adjustments that can be made.
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NHS England has set a target that cervical cancer will be eliminated in England by 2040. Although progress has been made in detecting and treating cervical cancer, there are still many women who are reluctant to go for cervical screening, or who face barriers to accessing screening. These barriers include perceived discrimination, lack of understanding the risk of cervical cancer and unmet access needs. This contributes to persistent health inequalities amongst particular groups. Patient Safety Learning has pulled together 13 useful resources shared on the hub about how to improve access and overcome barriers to cervical screening. 1. Cervical screening, my way: Women's attitudes and solutions to improve uptake of cervical screening This research by Healthwatch explored why some women are hesitant to go for cervical screening. Based on the findings of a survey of more than 2,400 women who were hesitant about screening, it makes recommendations to policymakers on how to improve uptake, including: improvements to the way data about the disability and ethnicity of people attending screening. producing an NHS-branded trauma card for affected women to bring to appointments. ensuring staff are effectively trained on accessibility and adjustments to care. looking at the possibility of home-based self-screening. 2. Facing a smear test after my trauma In this BMJ article, Ruth Ajayi shares her experience of cervical screening after a traumatic childbirth, and how healthcare professionals could offer more compassionate, flexible care. 3. Exploring the inequalities of women with learning disabilities deciding to attend and then accessing cervical and breast cancer screening, using the Social Ecological Model Women with learning disabilities are less likely to access cervical and breast cancer screening when compared to the general population. In this study, the Social Ecological Model (SEM) was used to examine the inequalities faced by women with learning disabilities in accessing cervical and breast cancer screening in England. The study highlights key barriers to access for women with learning disabilities. 4. “We’re not taken seriously”: Describing the experiences of perceived discrimination in medical settings for Black women Black women continue to experience disparities in cervical cancer despite targeted efforts. One potential factor affecting screening and prevention is discrimination in medical settings. This US study in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities describes experiences of perceived discrimination in medical settings for Black women and explores the impact of this on cervical cancer screening and prevention. The authors suggest that future interventions should address the poor quality of medical encounters that Black women experience. 5. Top tips for healthcare professionals: Cervical screenings This article by the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists and the My Body Back Project offers tips for healthcare professionals to make cervical cancer screening attendees feel as comfortable as possible during their appointments. Cervical screening can be very daunting for some women, and for those who have experienced sexual violence it can be triggering and cause emotional distress. The article provides tips on communication, making the environment calm and safe, sharing control and building trust with women. 6. Cervical screening uptake: supporting positive patient experiences is key In this blog, Steph explains why Cervical Cancer Prevention Week is an opportunity to validate and help improve patient experiences. She calls for more information to be shared with both patients and doctors that helps to increase compassion, understanding and accessibility. 7. Cervical screening for people with learning disabilities: Learning resource for sample takers This learning resource from the NHS Wessex Cancer Alliance explains the misconceptions and barriers to cervical screening, the consent and best interest decisions, and the role of the sample taker and the reasonable adjustments that can be made. 8. The Eve Appeal: What adjustments can you ask for at your cervical screening? The Eve Appeal want to raise awareness of what adaptations women and people with a cervix can ask for during their screening to make the appointment more comfortable. 9. How can reframing women’s health improve outcomes? An interview with Dr Marieke Bigg Dr Marieke Bigg is the author of a 2023 book, This won’t hurt: How medicine fails women. In this interview, Marieke discusses how societal ideas about the female body have restricted the healthcare system’s approach to women’s health and describes the impact this has had on health outcomes. She also highlights areas where the health system is reframing its approach by listening to the needs of women and describes how simple changes, such as allowing women to carry out their own cervical screening at home, can make a big difference. 10. Having a smear test. What is it about? This download A4 Easy Read booklet from Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust uses simple language and pictures to talk about smear tests. It explains what a smear test is, has tips for the person having the test and has a list of words they might hear at their appointment. 11. Health Improvement Scotland: Cervical screening standards Published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland in March, the new cervical screening standards include recommendations to ensure women receive accessible letters and information about screening and healthcare professionals are trained to support women to make informed choices. 12. Cervical cancer screening in women with physical disabilities This US study explored how the cervical cancer screening experiences of women with physical disabilities (WWPD) can be improved. Interviews with WWPD indicated that access to self-sampling options would be more comfortable for cervical cancer screening participation. The authors highlight that these findings that can inform the promotion of self-sampling devices for cervical cancer screening. 13. Cervical screening - a guide for survivors of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse This guide by The Eve Appeal and The Survivors Trust gives information about attending cervical screening for survivors of rape, sexual abuse or assault. It offers tips that may help patients feel more comfortable about their appointment. It is part of the #CheckWithMeFirst campaign to help raise awareness of the challenges survivors of rape, sexual abuse and sexual violence may face when accessing cervical screening. Have your say Are you a healthcare professional who works in women’s health or cancer services? We would love to hear your insights and share resources you have developed. Perhaps you have an experience of cervical screening or cervical cancer that you would like to share? We would love to hear from you! Comment below (register as a hub member for free first) Get in touch with us directly to share your insights -
Content Article
Elizabeth Wood is an Editor at EIDO Healthcare, who manages the production of their Easy Reads. In this blog, she explains what an Easy Read is, and why accessible, written information is critical to fighting inequality. Elizabeth offers advice on where to find Easy Reads, and who can support you to create them. “The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.” Leonardo da Vinci [1] Imagine this; your doctor has just told you that you need an operation. You’re told this operation has complications, and potential consequences for the rest of your life. You’re overwhelmed but feel reassured when the doctor hands you a leaflet, saying it will help you understand what’s going to happen. Except, you don’t understand it. There’s too much text, words you don’t recognise and pictures of people who look nothing like you. Now, you’re not just overwhelmed. You’re confused and scared. No patient should feel like this. Everyone deserves information they can comprehend that helps them make an informed decision about their health and care. That’s where Easy Reads come in. What is an Easy Read? An Easy Read is a way of making written information clearer for people with learning disabilities, and people who struggle with reading, writing, or remembering things. They’re also useful for patients who don’t speak English as their first language. The key difference between an Easy Read and other patient advice is in the level of detail. The language is simpler, shorter and easier to follow. Unless it’s essential, medical jargon is left out of an Easy Read. If it has to be included, it’s always explained in simple terms. There are often pictures next to each statement, making the leaflet more accessible and engaging. Websites like Photosymbols are a great resource, because they use models who have learning disabilities themselves. This is important to help patients relate to what they’ve read and feel reassured. Written information remains important Written information isn’t a substitute for a meaningful conversation between a doctor and their patient. However, studies show that patients can forget a staggering 40-80% of what they’re told during a consultation.[1] It’s vital they have something they can refer back to and process in their own time. In the UK, 1.5 million people are living with a learning disability.[2] That’s a lot of people left severely disadvantaged if they don’t understand what they’ve been told. Presenting patients with learning disabilities with information they can really process isn’t just a tick box – as laid out in the Equality Act 2010, it’s the law.[3] Easy Reads should always be available. There’s some great stuff already out there but there can always be more. Online information can lead to exclusion The government’s drive to progress much of our healthcare from analogue to digital means the NHS is becoming increasingly digitally led; with fewer paper forms being printed, more online consultations and an increase in investment in digital health.[4] Assuming that patients can use health services online relies on several factors, including: the patient having access to the internet the patient wanting to access the information online, and websites and apps catering to their needs; written in a way they can understand, with features like screen reader and alt text enabled where necessary. If we’re not careful, the move to digital could lead to widespread areas of exclusion. This is especially a concern for individuals with learning disabilities. “[n]early half of people with complex disabilities face exclusion as they struggle to access and engage with services online.”[5] Finding and creating Easy Reads In a world that’s so fast-paced it can feel impossible to make sure no one gets left behind. But fear not! It’s easier than you think to make information accessible. Creating an Easy Read isn’t just about tweaking existing information – in most cases a full rewrite is needed. This is where accessible information organisations like Making it Clear, or the learning disability charity Mencap are great to work with when creating the resource from scratch. We also have a range of procedure-specific Easy Reads at EIDO Healthcare, which I am responsible for. The NHS has a number of free Easy Reads, as well as various articles on how best to support those with learning disabilities and impairments, as laid out in the ‘Accessible Information Standard’. When writing, it’s crucial you remember who you’re writing for. This is when user testing and focus groups come in handy.[1] Patients can tell you about their specific needs, what issues they may have with the content and how to ensure the leaflet is truly a resource that helps them when they need it most. Easy Reads help the patient and those who support them, like friends, family, or care workers, understand the proposed procedure and make decisions together. This is how we work in partnership with patients. This is how we fight inequality and ensure their trust and safety. References [1] Kessels RP. Patients' memory for medical information. J R Soc Med. 2003 May;96(5). [2] Mencap. How common is learning disability in the UK? Accessed online 1/12/2025. [3] Mencap. How common is learning disability in the UK? Accessed online 1/12/2025. [4] Department of Health and Social Care. 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future. 3/7/25. [5] Sense. Potential and Possibility 2024. Accessed online 1/12/25. [6] The Information Access Group. The benefits of user research in Easy Read. Accessed online 1/12/25. -
Content ArticleHealth disparities are systemic and deeply rooted in social and economic inequities. Patients living in deprived areas, from racially minoritised communities, or facing additional challenges such as homelessness or intellectual disabilities experience worse health outcomes. These disparities are compounded by mistrust in healthcare, low health literacy, cultural barriers, and discrimination. This report focuses on patients with blood disorders and/or cancers who experience health inequalities, and therefore have worse outcomes and experiences of care than patients who don’t. We looked at how social and economic factors affect the health of people living with blood disorders and cancer. Report key findings: Patients living with cancer and/or blood disorders experience significant barriers to care including delays in diagnosis, unequal access to services, and systemic discrimination, These patients also reported challenges navigating healthcare, a lack of communication, and economic burdens such as high transportation and medication costs, Social determinants of health like inadequate housing and living in deprived areas further worsened outcomes, Participants emphasised mistrust in the healthcare system, particularly among racially minoritised and LGBTQ+ communities, and highlighted the need for better coordination, cultural sensitivity training, and localised services. The project involved a literature review on health disparities and social determinants affecting patients with cancer and blood disorders. Discussions were held with local and condition-specific charities, and we conducted focus groups and a case study interview with patients and carers. These efforts aimed to gather diverse perspectives and first-hand accounts of lived experiences.
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Content ArticleIn most developed countries, people don’t have to worry about sifting through a dozen different health plans—and they don’t live in fear of losing their health care after losing a job. They receive more affordable, higher-quality care than Americans do. The paradox of the world’s wealthiest nation having one of the weakest health systems among developed nations has long been a vexing policy problem—without an easy solution. In this article, Vox Senior Correspondent Dylan Scott looks at how the insurance-based healthcare system in the US developed from the 1920s onwards, and why it is so complex and compartmentalised compared to systems in other developed countries.
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Content ArticleThe future of healthcare access and safety is a critical subject as technological advancements, policy reforms and demographic shifts reshape global healthcare landscapes. Access to healthcare refers to the ability of individuals to obtain necessary medical services, including prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Healthcare safety, on the other hand, is about minimising risks, errors and harm in the delivery of healthcare services. In the wake of innovations such as telemedicine, artificial intelligence (AI) and genomic medicine, healthcare is poised to become more accessible and safe. Yet, challenges such as inequalities, data security and ethical concerns persist. This commentary explores the opportunities and challenges in ensuring healthcare access and safety, focusing on the roles of technology, health care policy and societal transformations. .Achieving equitable healthcare access and patient safety will require a holistic approach combining technology, policy and social interventions. As healthcare systems evolve, they must focus on delivering high-quality, safe and affordable care to all individuals, regardless of their geographic location or socio-economic status.
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Content ArticleDiverse ethnic groups are under-represented in health research, which can mean healthcare treatments and services are less safe, accessible and effective for these groups. This spoken word video aims to increase the number of people with lived experience from diverse ethnic groups who are actively involved in health research, and ultimately improve health treatments and services. The film focuses on why diversity in patient and public involvement (PPI) and in health research matters for people, families and communities. Related reading “Our message about public involvement is don’t be afraid to start.” Interview with Barbara Molony-Oates from the NHS Health Research Authority
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Content ArticleThe Independent Inquiry into Access to Healthcare for People with Learning Disabilities reported in July 2008. Based on a public consultation, a review of research and evidence and the views of witnesses and stakeholders, the Michael Inquiry concluded that there are risks inherent in the care system for people with learning disabilities and that they are largely due to a failure to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to services, as required under the Disability Discrimination Act. The Inquiry found evidence of a significant level of avoidable suffering due to untreated ill‐health, and a high likelihood that avoidable deaths are occurring. Although the report highlights examples of good practice there are some appalling examples of discrimination, abuse and neglect. This article makes ten essential recommendations for urgent change across the whole health system and the Inquiry team report contains practical illustrations of how to implement them.
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Content ArticleDrawing on The King’s Fund’s five-year programme of work on health inequalities and tackling the worst health outcomes, which includes insights from stakeholders, partners and people with lived experience, this long read outlines what the King's Fund think the anticipated 10-year health plan should focus on to help the NHS do more to tackle these challenges. It includes a video from Stella O'Brien describing the barriers she has faced when accessing health and care services as a deaf person, and the importance of recognising patients and carers as assets. Seven priorities for the new 10-year health plan: Develop a cross-government health inequalities strategy for the 10-year health plan to feed into. Reorientate the NHS to focus on prevention. Radically change the relationships the NHS has with people and communities, from ‘power over’ to ‘power with’. Tackle racism and discrimination in the NHS and cultivate a culture of compassion. Enable staff to identify and act on health inequalities and capture learning. Empower place-based partnerships to take more decisions about how NHS money is spent. Actively support local voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations through changes in financial planning and commissioning.
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Content ArticleResearch by NatCen for the Department for Transport, into the 3 factors linking transport, health and wellbeing: access to health services, particularly for vulnerable groups including older people how modes of transport affect physical and mental health transport as a facilitator for social interactions and social inclusion Transport can have both positive and negative impacts on health, and these impacts are experienced differently by different groups in society.
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News Article
NHS ‘routinely failing’ deaf patients in England, report finds
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Deaf patients face systemic discrimination when it comes to learning about their own health due to NHS failings, with some not understanding that they might have a terminal illness, according to a damning report. The study by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) accuses the NHS of “routinely failing” deaf people. A survey of more than 1,000 people in England who are deaf or have hearing loss found that almost one in 10 had avoided calling an ambulance or attending A&E due to their disability, and a quarter had avoided seeking help for a new health concern. The survey also found that about half of sign language users reported not having understood their diagnosis, or how their treatment worked. NHS staff said a lack of training, time and a poor IT system were major factors in being unable to provide these accessibility requirements for deaf people. The report also highlights instances of deaf people receiving particularly poor NHS care. In one instance, a woman was not provided with an interpreter, which meant she was unaware she had had a miscarriage. Another example was a patient receiving no food or water during a hospital stay as they could not hear staff offering it to them. Sharing her experiences as part of the report, Dr Natasha Wilcock, a deaf doctor who works in palliative care, said she had met patients who had been referred to palliative care services who, due to the lack of communication, did not understand they were dying and no longer receiving cancer treatment. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 24 April 2025 Further reading on the hub: Top picks: 11 resources to support people with hearing loss or deafness -
News ArticleNavigating health systems in a foreign country can add another layer of anxiety to situations that often already stressful. Cultural differences, language barriers and a lack of confidence can all present obstacles to getting the right medical care. A new app has been designed to help immigrant women deal with these challenges by providing them with AI-powered support they can use during health appointments. It aims to make medical treatment more accessible and “empower women to manage their health with confidence”. And as well as offering help on understanding their health insurance, it also includes an online community where women can share experiences and support. The WE app concept was created by QIMU Design in the US and recently won a UX Design Award. The award judges said: “Enabling healthcare access for everyone should be a goal for both society and healthcare providers. “WE tackled this challenge with an app, reducing barriers for non-native speaking women to access healthcare. Its simple, user-friendly design suits its target audience, enabling effective navigation through complex healthcare systems. A wide range of functions including translation, insurance guidance, articles, chat and advice offer holistic support. The relevance and thoughtful design make WE a compelling and impactful concept.” Read full story Source: CIEHF, 20 March 2025
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News Article
Worst trusts for food, cleanliness and privacy revealed
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The best and worst trusts for food, cleanliness and privacy – as judged by patients and staff – have been revealed. Whittington Health Trust has been named among the worst five acute trusts on all the above measures, in the latest national assessment of care environments. Leeds and York Partnership Foundation Trust was the only mental health trust in the bottom five on all these counts. NHS England published the results of a patient-led assessment of the care environment (PLACE) last month. A team of patients and staff judged the scores on non-clinical aspects of the trust environment. A Whittington Health spokesman said it had a wide-ranging plan for improvements, including refurbishments and enhanced catering. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 6 March 2025 -
News ArticleWhen doctors tried to work out whether Marie Tidball would need a specially designed birth plan, one asked her to lie fully clothed on the bed and spread her legs in the air so they could see how far they could open. The incident was one of several occasions when Tidball, now a Labour MP, felt neglected during her pregnancy and early motherhood because of the NHS’s failure to adapt on account of her physical disabilities. Tidball has physical impairments affecting all four of her limbs and had major surgeries on both her hips and legs as a child. She is speaking publicly about her experiences for the first time to highlight a report showing that disabled mothers and their children have significantly worse neonatal and postnatal NHS care than others. Speaking about the doctor’s request to open her legs, Tidball told the Guardian: “I was shocked, really, that that was their approach, rather than actually looking properly at some of my medical history and the notes around my hips. “They didn’t think about how that orthopaedic surgery might interact with birth, but also [about] carrying the baby and the way the baby was lying in uterus. They just hadn’t really thought those intersections through.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 5 March 2025 Related reading on the hub Diagnostic safety: accessibility and adaptations– a (un)reasonable adjustment?
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EventuntilThis webinar will explore the findings from the Patients Association's Patient Experience of Diagnostics report and consider its recommendations. The panellists are: Professor Sir Mike Richards, who was the first National Cancer Director at the Department of Health Karen Stalbow, Head of Diagnostic Policy at NHS England Dr Ashton Harper, Head of Medical Affairs at Roche Diagnostics Ltd. Patients Association Chief Executive Rachel Power will chair the session and the panel will include patients. The webinar will be held on Zoom and is free to attend. Book your place.
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