Did you know that in the UK, almost 1 in 5 people have a disability of some kind? Many more have temporary or situational disabilities, like an illness or injury. Did you also know that the UK government have accessibility regulations when it comes to the standards that website of organisations like GP practices must meet?

The full name of the accessibility regulations is the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018. These regulations were designed to make websites more understandable and usable by all people who might use them, regardless of ability. For example, can someone with dyslexia read your content easily? How would someone with a broken arm interact with your website on a mobile device?

Specifically, there are some guidelines that define how to make websites accessible called Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1). You can access a quick reference guide on How To Meet WCAG at this link.

Digital services in the NHS must:

• meet at least level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1)
• work on the most commonly used assistive technologies (follow GOV.UK guidance on testing with assistive technologies
• include people with access needs in user research
  publish an accessibility statement that complies with GOV.UK requirements

Have You Considered These WCAG Techniques on Your Website?

The main principles of the WCAG guidelines are that websites must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. They should consider certain requirements and techniques, such as:

• Audio description or Media Alternative
• Captions
• Sensory characteristics
• Use of colour
• Enhanced contrast
• Timeouts
• Abbreviations and reading levels
• Error identification

My Surgery Website is Fully WCAG Compliant!

The good news is that the experts at My Surgery Website have done all the hard work so you don’t have to. My Surgery Website is built with full WCAG 2.1 (AA) compliance in accordance with HM Government’s Accessibility Regulations for Public Sector Bodies. We make sure your website is accessible to patients of all abilities and we provide on-line assistance to help you stay compliant as you update your site going forward.

As an added bonus, we have also worked closely with the NHS to syndicate some of their content. This includes a lot of health information and a useful search allowing patients to find local services. This is part of your website and keeps it up to date without you having to do anything.

Consequences of Poorly-Accessible Practice Websites

If your service isn't accessible to everyone who needs it, you may be breaking the 2010 Equality Act.  You also risk compromising the health outcomes of your more vulnerable patients.

Contact us today to hear how we can transform your surgery website and ensure it is 100% compliant and delivers 100% patient satisfaction.