Cancer: Disability
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of access by disabled people to cancer screening; and what information his Department holds on such access.
Answered by Ashley Dalton
NHS England is committed to improving the accessibility of the three cancer screening programmes which it commissions under the Public Health Services (S7a) agreement, particularly for under-served groups in society.
Contractually, providers of National Health Service screening services are required to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that their services are accessible to disabled people. This includes health providers ensuring that their premises are suitable for the delivery of services and are sufficient to meet the needs of their patients, including those with disabilities. If a patient requires specialist equipment, providers must ensure that their patients have access to its use in a safe environment.
Regionally and nationally, several initiatives have been implemented to ensure that information is available in 10 languages, easy read, and British Sign Language, and people can also request braille versions to ensure they have information in a format appropriate to them.
Information on access by disabled people to cancer screening is not held centrally.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →