Disabled peoples problems accessing primary care

Thu,12 March 2015
News

A new Healthwatch England report says disabled people face major access problems using GP and dentist services – from deaf people being expected to make appointments by phone, to poor or non-existent access for wheelchair users.

http://www.healthwatch.co.uk/news/disabled-people-struggling-access-gp-appointments

Liz Sayce said ‘We expect our health services to offer very good access to disabled people. It’s ironic that some shops and hotels are better at it than the NHS, which exists to serve people living with health conditions or disability.

Primary care services that get access right will increase customer satisfaction and well-being. They should never forget that it is against the law to treat someone less favourably on grounds of disability or fail to take reasonable steps to ensure access. Local Healthwatch are taking up these issues with Clinical Commissioning Groups in different parts of England. Disabled people could work with Healtwatch to press for change ’.