Dear Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust,

I am writing to make a formal request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding any policy and procedures related to the identification and implementation of reasonable adjustments for patients with disabilities, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

The Equality Act 2010 imposes a legal duty on organisations, including healthcare providers, to make reasonable adjustments to their services to ensure that they are accessible to individuals with disabilities, and on par with services provided to individuals without disabilities. It has come to my attention that you utilise the Reasonable Adjustment Flag on the National Care Records Service (NCRS) to record, share, and view details of reasonable adjustments for patients across the NHS in England. I am interested in understanding how you implement and adhere to this policy to ensure equitable healthcare access for patients with disabilities.

Therefore, I kindly request the following information:

A copy of your policy or guidelines regarding the identification and implementation of reasonable adjustments for patients under the Equality Act 2010.

Information on the processes and procedures in place for health and care workers within your organisation to record and communicate reasonable adjustments for patients, including the use of the Reasonable Adjustment Flag on the NCRS.

Details about the categories of adjustments and types of adjustments that can be recorded for patients on the Reasonable Adjustment Flag, as specified in the NHS guidance.

Any documents or guidelines that you provide to your staff regarding the assessment and recording of patients' needs for reasonable adjustments, including communication requirements and impairments.

Information on how you ensure that reasonable adjustments are applied promptly and consistently across all care settings within the hospital.

Any data or statistics related to the number of patients within your organisation who have been flagged as needing reasonable adjustments, and the types of adjustments commonly provided.

Information on how you comply with the legal obligation under the Equality Act 2010 to make anticipatory reasonable adjustments, particularly in cases where patients are referred or present for care.

Any additional documentation, reports, or guidance related to your efforts to satisfy your legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and NHS contracts.

Details on any training or education provided to staff within your organisation regarding reasonable adjustments for patients with disabilities.

The contact information of the designated individual or department responsible for overseeing the implementation of reasonable adjustments within your organisation.

Please provide the requested information in electronic format where possible, and within the statutory timeframe of 20 working days, as stipulated by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

If there are any fees associated with processing this request, please inform me in advance. If you require any clarification or further information to fulfill this request, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I understand the importance of complying with the law and ensuring that individuals with disabilities receive equitable healthcare services. Your assistance in providing this information will greatly contribute to our collective understanding of how hospitals like yours work to fulfill these vital obligations.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to receiving the requested information in due course.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Ryan Jarvis