We have passed the full implementation deadline for the NHS England accessible information standard and over the last few weeks I’ve had calls from several NHS colleagues asking for simple confirmation that the standard doesn’t apply to their public engagement or consultation plans.

The standard has specific exclusions for engagement and consultation activity, so you’d expect that to be the end of it.

It isn’t.

There are many points in the complex landscape of NHS policies, rules, and legal obligations that are reasons for commissioners to adopt accessible practices in their public and patient engagement strategies, so understandably references to the standard have started to appear in corporate documents that guide those activities.

Like in the equality analysis for NHS England’s patient and public participation policy, which notes: “Commissioners should consider following the ‘five step’ process set out by the Accessible Information Standard to meet disabled people’s participation needs.” How many could evidence that they have?

The standard is good. It offers the opportunity to achieve a seismic shift in patient safety, quality of care and health outcomes. That’s its purpose.

It also offers commissioners a standardised approach they could adopt to reduce identifiable barriers to participation and do a much more structured and efficient job of identifying and engaging people with disabilities that affect communication. The standard can help identify the size and shape of needs in an area, and duties under the equality act are a driver for commissioners to talk to the people identified and find out the best ways to communicate with them as part of an engagement programme.

So back to the question: does the accessible communication standard apply to health commissioners’ public engagement plans? Not directly, but it might already through other rules. If not, it probably will do soon.