Did you know? NHS services across England are continuing to integrate the Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag into their systems.
The digital flag helps health and social care staff record and see what reasonable adjustments a person may need. This means people do not have to repeat their needs at every appointment.
Under the Equality Act 2010, people have a legal right to reasonable adjustments. The digital flag helps by showing these needs in NHS systems when it is updated.
What is a reasonable adjustment?
A reasonable adjustment is a change that helps remove barriers for a disabled person. For example:
- Providing a BSL interpreter
- Offering Easy Read information
- Booking longer appointments
- Providing a quiet waiting area
- Making changes to the environment
Why this is important
Disability Rights UK recently published an article called “From Invisible to Included: Why Digital Flags are the Future of Healthcare in Greater Manchester”.
In the article, Jackie Driver FRSA OBE, Associate Director for Equality and Inclusion at Greater Manchester Integrated Care writes:
“For too long, the ‘Reasonable Adjustment’ has been the best-kept secret in a patient’s medical file—if it was recorded at all.”
The article explains how digital flags can help move services from a reactive approach, where people have to ask for support each time, to a more anticipatory approach where needs are recognised earlier.
