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Vaccination support for blind and partially sighted people

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Dear NHS Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group,

I am writing to you about the Covid-19 vaccination programme being led by your Clinical Commissioning Group and how you are supporting blind and partially sighted people to access the programme.

Please could you answer the following questions under the Freedom of Information Act:

1) Are you ensuring information sent to a visually impaired person about vaccine appointments or provided to them at a vaccination centre is available in an accessible format such as large print and braille? If yes, how?

2) Are you providing clear information on the location of vaccine centres, such as public transport options and alternatives for blind and partially sighted people? If yes, how?

3) Are you making sure that vaccination venues have clear signage and good levels of lighting to enable blind and partially sighted people to access them? If yes, how?

4) Are you ensuring staff and volunteers at vaccination centres are trained to provide support to people with sight loss, such as providing verbal or sighted guiding where necessary? If yes, how?

5) Are you aware of and using the sight loss sector guidance on vaccine rollout which is available here: https://www.sightlosscouncils.org.uk/wp-... If yes, how have you used this?

Yours faithfully,

Mike Bell
Senior Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager
Thomas Pocklington Trust

CCGFreedomofInformation (NORTH WEST LONDON COLLABORATION OF CLINICAL COMMISSIONING GROUPS), NHS Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Bell,

 

Thank you for your information request sent to NHS Hillingdon CCG. I
apologise for the delay in responding. It has been a hectic time with
colleagues being redeployed in response to Covid-19 work and the 8 CCGs in
North West London merging to form a single CCG (North West London CCG) on
the 1 April 2021.

 

The 8 CCGs were working together collaboratively and approached the
Covid-19 pandemic at a NW London system approach with all organisations
working together. This is a joint response which covers the 8 previous NW
London CCGs.

 

You requested:

 

Please could you answer the following questions under the Freedom of
Information Act:

 

1) Are you ensuring information sent to a visually impaired person about
vaccine appointments or provided to them at a vaccination centre is
available in an accessible format such as large print and braille? If yes,
how?

 

2) Are you providing clear information on the location of vaccine centres,
such as public transport options and alternatives for blind and partially
sighted people? If yes, how?

 

3) Are you making sure that vaccination venues have clear signage and good
levels of lighting to enable blind and partially sighted people to access
them? If yes, how?

 

4) Are you ensuring staff and volunteers at vaccination centres are
trained to provide support to people with sight loss, such as providing
verbal or sighted guiding where necessary? If yes, how?

 

5) Are you aware of and using the sight loss sector guidance on vaccine
rollout which is available here:
[1]https://www.sightlosscouncils.org.uk/wp-...
If yes, how have you used this?

 

Our response is:

 

1)    Are you ensuring information sent to a visually impaired person
about vaccine appointments or provided to them at a vaccination centre is
available in an accessible format such as large print and braille? If yes,
how?

 

We are not directly sending out information to any patient groups. Where
residents need support with their vaccination our GP teams are on hand to
do this. Our GPs are calling people directly to book them in for an
appointment. Information is available in a range of formats including
large print. Braille leaflets can be requested [2]COVID-19 vaccination:
guide for adults - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

 

2)    Are you providing clear information on the location of vaccine
centres, such as public transport options and alternatives for blind and
partially sighted people? If yes, how?

 

Information on all our centres including travel is available here.
[3]Large vaccination centres in NW London :: North West London Clinical
Commissioning Groups (nwlondonccg.nhs.uk)

3) Are you making sure that vaccination venues have clear signage and good
levels of lighting to enable blind and partially sighted people to access
them? If yes, how?

 

All our centres have staff and marshals on hand to help anyone who needs
help to access and get through the centre. Clear signage is in place and
all centres are well lit.

 

4) Are you ensuring staff and volunteers at vaccination centres are
trained to provide support to people with sight loss, such as providing
verbal or sighted guiding where necessary? If yes, how?

 

As with all NHS services, staff are on hand to help and support residents
who arrive at our vaccination centres. People attending our centres may
have a range of needs that require support.

 

5) Are you aware of and using the sight loss sector guidance on vaccine
rollout which is available here:
[4]https://www.sightlosscouncils.org.uk/wp-...
If yes, how have you used this?

 

Thank you for sharing this guidance.

 

If you are dissatisfied with your response or how it has been handled you
can request a review by emailing [5][NHS Hillingdon CCG request email].  Please state
your complaint or dissatisfaction and the matter will be reviewed.  The
outcome would be reported back to you.  Where you feel your request has
still not been dealt with properly, you can refer your complaint to the
Information Commissioner by writing to: The Information Commissioner,
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5AF which can investigate the
matter.

 

Further information on the Freedom of Information Act is available at:
[6]http://www.ico.org.uk.

 

Regards

Freedom of Information Team

NW London Communications & Engagement Team

North West London Clinical Commissioning Groups

[7][NHS Hillingdon CCG request email]
15 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JD

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We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Mike Bell please sign in and let everyone know.