Support for visually impaired patients
Through our engagement with service users at The Sunderland and County Durham Royal Society for the Blind we were informed that many people with sight loss were not able to see, read or understand the labelling on their medication packaging, which was supplied to them by their local community pharmacies. They went on to explain that this was mainly due to print on labelling being too small for them to see or labels being stuck over the medication names which manufacturers add to the boxes in braille. They also explained how they had overcome not being able to see/read their medication labels by tearing off the corners of the packaging or by wrapping elastic bands around the packaging for the same reason to identify what medications they are taking.
This made it apparent to the Healthwatch engagement team that the people in the room were unaware that from 1 August 2016 onwards, all organisations that provide NHS care are legally required to follow the Accessible Information Standard, which states that they should meet the information and communication support needs of patients with a disability, impairment or sensory loss. This means that services should be asking their patients if they require any adjustments to written information they are being given and make adjustments to suit the person’s individual needs.
To highlight the issues that people with sight loss are experiencing with their medication labelling which is being dispensed by local community pharmacies in Sunderland, we have developed a poster containing a case study. The content of the case study brings to their attention the struggles people with sight loss are having with their medication labelling, but also highlights their obligations with regard to the Accessible Information Standard.
What difference it has made?
All community pharmacies in Sunderland have heard of some of the difficulties being experienced by people across Sunderland who have sight loss when they are receiving their medications from their service.
People in Sunderland living with sight loss should have a better experience of accessing their medications in the future, be involved in their own care by being asked if they need adjustments to the information they received and be able to understand their medication, ensure they are taking the correct medication at the correct time and are taking the prescribed dose.
