Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the Accessible Information Standard across healthcare services.

NHS England are currently reviewing the Accessible Information Standard (AIS), to help ensure that everyone’s communication needs are met in health and care provision. The review will consider the effectiveness of the current AIS, how the standard is implemented and enforced in practice, and identify recommendations for improvement.

Phase One of the review which involved engagement and consultation with stakeholders including patients and the voluntary sector is now complete. Phase Two to revise the standard itself is ongoing. Publication of the revised AIS is expected in summer 2023.