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Strong Local Voice, Strong Local ChampionAnnette Brooke, Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset & North Poole |
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Annette Brooke challenges PM on accessible health information
February 11, 2010 12:43 PM
Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, used an opportunity at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday challenge Gordon Brown over the appalling failure of the Government to ensure that health information is accessible to patients with sight loss.
A recent report by the RNIB had discovered that almost 75% of blind and partially sighted patients were given information they could not read by their GPs, a higher figure was the case for the NHS as a whole, meaning that information ranging from confidential test results to sexual health information was not available for the patient to themselves.
Annette has worked with the RNIB for several years and took the opportunity of a Prime Minister's question to challenge the Government on this important issue. Gordon Brown has agreed to meet with Annette and a delegation from the RNIB to discuss the issue where she hopes to push for a change in legislation on the matter.
Commenting Annette said 'It was a fantastic opportunity to raise this issue, which is too often dismissed as unimportant. Making vital health information accessible to all is a necessary step in ensuring that the 2 million people in this country with sight loss do not have their health put in danger.
'I am looking forward to meeting with Gordon Brown and hope that the sympathy he expressed in his response is turned into action in his Government'
Steve Winyard, Head of Policy & Campaigns, RNIB said: 'Annette has been a long-term champion of blind and partially-sighted people and their right to access information, we're delighted that she has secured a meeting with the Prime Minister on this issue of vital importance to the 1.8 million people in the UK living with sightloss'
Case study:
Jason from the South West
Jason has a number of serious health conditions which need management through medication and through personal coping mechanisms. He has never received any information about his conditions in a format he can access, Jason's medication is also confusing as he is not able to read the information provided so does not know what his medication does, nor is he aware of the possible side-effects. Jason has also consistently missed appointments at the Hospital as he cannot read his appointment letters for the date, time and location of his appointments.
Horrifyingly, Jason has also signed a medical consent form for serious medical procedures no less than 5 times without an explanation of the implications of the procedure.
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