Do you find it hard to understand your doctor or social worker? Do they speak too fast? Or give you letters that are hard to read?
There is a rule for health and social care services.
The rule says they have to communicate with you in a way you can understand.
The rule is called the accessible information standard.
At Reepham and Aylsham Medical Practice we may communicate with you in the following ways:
- Via email
- By sending a letter
- Speaking with you over the telephone
- Talking to you in person at the surgery
Your communication needs and preferences are extremely important to us and we will always try our best to communicate with you, in a way you can understand.
To help us achieve this we must ask you a few questions.
What support do you need from us?
You can choose what support you ask for, here are some ideas to help you:
- Use easy words to understand and don’t speak to fast
- Explain everything in a way that you can understand
- Give you a longer appointment
- Request your appointment when your supporter/carer can come
- Give you letters and leaflets in easy read or large print
- You can choose your preferred method of contact (email, telephone, letter)
- Communication support for appointments (e.g. interpreter or sign language)
- Additional support to communicate (e.g. hearing aids or lip reading)
Do you give consent for us to inform other services what support you need?
If we send a referral for you to be seen by another service, like the hospital, we can tell the service what support you need.
If you do not give consent, we will not share this information.
Tell us what support you need
By writing down what support you need, we can add a note to your record. Whenever you communicate with a member of the team at the practice, they will be able to see your preferences on your record. If you are unable to write down what support you need, please inform a member of the team and we can help you.