At School Lane Surgery, we want everyone to be able to access healthcare fairly.
Some people need changes to the usual way healthcare services are provided because of a disability or long-term condition. These changes are called reasonable adjustments.
What is a Reasonable Adjustment Flag?
A Reasonable Adjustment Flag is a secure record on the national NHS system. It lets authorised health and care staff know that a patient needs particular support when accessing services.
The flag can include details of the adjustments that have been agreed. This can help NHS services prepare for a patient’s needs and reduce the need for patients or carers to explain the same information repeatedly.
The flag is not a diagnosis and does not change your entitlement to care.
Who might need a flag?
A flag may be appropriate for someone who:
- has a physical or mental impairment, disability or long-term condition that has a substantial and long-term effect on everyday activities; and
- needs a specific adjustment to help them access healthcare.
This could include people with a physical or sensory disability, learning disability, autism, dementia or another long-term condition.
Having a diagnosis or long-term condition does not automatically mean that you need a flag. The important question is whether you need a particular adjustment to access healthcare fairly.
What could be recorded?
Reasonable adjustments depend on the individual. Examples might include:
- information in Easy Read, large print or another accessible format;
- a particular method of communication because of a disability;
- support from a British Sign Language interpreter or communication professional;
- wheelchair access or a quieter environment;
- support from a carer, advocate or other appropriate person;
- additional time or familiarisation when this is needed because of a disability.
These are examples only. Not every adjustment will be appropriate in every situation.
What does a flag not provide?
A Reasonable Adjustment Flag is not a general list of preferences.
It does not automatically:
- provide faster or priority access to appointments;
- guarantee a particular clinician, appointment time, appointment length or location;
- change the way clinical urgency is assessed; or
- mean that every request can be provided exactly as requested.
We will consider each person’s individual circumstances and work with them to agree an appropriate and reasonable adjustment. Sometimes there may be another practical way to meet the same need.
What is School Lane Surgery doing?
We are reviewing our patient records to identify people who may need a Reasonable Adjustment Flag but do not currently have one.
If we believe this may apply to you, we may contact you or, where appropriate, your parent, carer or representative. We will explain why we are contacting you and ask you to confirm what information or adjustments should be recorded.
Being contacted does not mean that anything is wrong with your medical record.
Do I need to contact the surgery?
You do not need to contact us simply because you have a disability, diagnosis or long-term condition.
You also do not need to contact us if your needs are already known, correctly recorded and being met.
Please contact us if:
- you need a specific adjustment to access healthcare and do not believe this is recorded;
- an adjustment already recorded is no longer correct; or
- your needs have changed.
You can contact us using the administrative query option on our online contact form. Please include the words “Reasonable Adjustment Flag” and briefly explain the adjustment you need.
If you need support for a particular appointment, please tell our team when arranging or attending that appointment.
Who can see the information?
Information on the flag is used only to support your direct care. Access is restricted to authorised health and care staff with the appropriate NHS permissions.
If your needs change, you can ask us to review and update the information.
You can find further information on the NHS England Reasonable Adjustment Flag webpage.