DDA Access Statement

Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act outlines the duties imposed upon those providing goods facilities and services not to discriminate against disabled people. Ultimately, Brunton Park Health Centre is a service provider, whether its services are given free of charge or not. In every case where the practice acts as a service provider, the building which it uses will have to conform to the requirements of the legislation.

Ongoing commitment to improving access

The practice recognises that many users, staff, and other visitors, whether disabled or otherwise, have individual needs when making use of it’s services. However, we also recognises that some people may experience specific difficulties related to access to practice services. As part of our ongoing commitment to equal opportunities we will endeavour to ensure that disabled users and visitors receive the same standards of service as everybody else.

Plan of Action

Communicate this policy to all staff

Provide appropriate disability awareness training for staff

Address acts of disability discrimination as appropriate

Consult with disabled customers, staff, and local disability organisations.

Make reasonable adjustments to assist disabled people

Effectively communicate improving accessibility to customers and staff

Regularly review/monitor to ensure that services are accessible

Regularly monitor the implementation and the effectiveness of this policy

Operate an accessible customer complaints procedure

Notes

Betts Avenue Medical Centre adopts a strategic planned approach which follows a process defining the type of services being provided to members of the public.  This identifies what has been done so far and what needs to be done in the future to maintain improve access. 

Each aspect of our services is being audited to identify existing and potential barriers and these may include the following key areas:

*       Information barriers (adoption of good print guidelines, accessible web sits, alternative formats. etc)

*       Attitudinal barriers (ensuring everyone understand their obligations under DDA)

*       Communication barriers (includes induction loops for hearing aid users, or how we communicate with, for example, hearing impaired customers and profoundly deaf people)

*       Physical access barriers (these are ongoing improvements, arising out of access audits)

*       Institutional barriers (reviewing of policies, practices and procedures to ensure any identified barriers are removed)

In the first instance, we inform all staff that the provision of all activities ensures the inclusion of disabled people.  Such communications will address our legal obligations in this respect.  Also, appropriate disability awareness training for staff is being carried out and this will be ongoing. 

Consultation with disabled people (staff and public) will be a key part of the responsibilities.  Evidence of consultation meets the requirements of the Code of Practice for Part III of the DDA. 

It also identifies the needs of disabled people and is Best Practice.  Discussions with disabled people will assist in maintaining an accessible organisation and this should help in monitoring and evaluating the continuing success of an access strategy.

It is our intention to make access improvements within existing programmes of maintenance and refurbishment improvements.  These planned improvements should be effectively communicated to both customers and staff.