Reasonable Adjustments

The NHS is committed to providing fair and equal access to healthcare for everyone. If you have a disability or specific needs, you may be entitled to reasonable adjustments to help you access NHS services more easily.

What are Reasonable Adjustments?

Reasonable adjustments are changes to the way services are delivered to make sure people with disabilities or additional needs are not put at a disadvantage when accessing healthcare.

This is a legal requirement under the Equality Act 2010, and all NHS organisations have a duty to make these changes where needed.

Examples of Reasonable Adjustments

Depending on your needs, reasonable adjustments might include:

  • Providing appointment letters or health information in large print, Easy Read, braille, or audio format
  • Offering longer or quieter appointments, particularly for people with autism or learning disabilities
  • Using British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters or other communication aids
  • Allowing a carer, support worker, or family member to attend appointments with you
  • Providing home visits if you’re unable to travel to the surgery or hospital
  • Ensuring facilities are physically accessible (e.g., wheelchair ramps, accessible toilets, hearing loops)

Reasonable Adjustment Flag

The Reasonable Adjustment Flag is a way for the NHS to record and share information about the reasonable adjustments you need – so you don’t have to keep repeating yourself every time you access a new service.
It is a note in your electronic health record, visible to NHS staff involved in your care.
It ensures that any NHS service – whether it’s your GP, hospital, community team or 111 – knows what you need from the start.

Our records indicate that you may benefit from a Reasonable Adjustment Flag on your NHS record. Please complete the questionnaire in the text message we sent you earlier to record your consent.