RJAH partners with AccessAble to improve accessibility for all

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (RJAH) have partnered with AccessAble, the UK’s leading provider of detailed accessibility information, to launch comprehensive Detailed Access Guides for its wards, services and departments.

The new guides provide clear, factual and easy-to-use information to help patients, visitors and staff plan their visit to the Oswestry-based hospital with confidence, reducing anxiety and supporting greater independence.

AccessAble, a disabled person-led organisation, has been producing detailed accessibility guides for over 25 years. Its work is co-produced with disabled people to ensure information is accurate, relevant and genuinely empowering. The guides go far beyond unhelpful terms such as “fully accessible”, instead offering detailed insights into what people can expect before they arrive.

Each guide has been created by trained AccessAble surveyors who visit the site in person. They capture detailed information on entrances, lifts, toilets, parking, lighting, signage, assistive listening systems and much more.

The guides also highlight features such as stoma-friendly facilities, Changing Places toilets and quiet spaces, supporting people with mobility needs, sensory impairments, neurodivergent users and anyone who may feel anxious in unfamiliar environments.

Stacey Keegan, Chief Executive at RJAH, said: “We are really pleased to be working in partnership with AccessAble to launch these Detailed Access Guides. From the very beginning, this collaboration has been about strengthening our commitment to accessibility and inclusion for everyone who uses or works at our hospital.

“By helping people plan ahead, the guides can reduce anxiety and enable patients, visitors and staff to feel more in control and independent when visiting our services. We’re looking forward to continuing to work closely with AccessAble as the guides are maintained and expanded over time.”

Accessibility features on the AccessAble website include Recite Me, which allows users to listen to content as audio, translate information into multiple languages, or adjust font size, colour contrast and background colours. British Sign Language (BSL) users can also access Convo video interpreting, supporting members of the Deaf community.

Gregory Burke, Founder and Executive Chair of AccessAble, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with RJAH to launch these Detailed Access Guides, which will provide practical, reliable information to help people plan their visit with confidence.

“We’d like to thank the Trust for its commitment to accessibility and inclusion, and the RJAH Charity for funding this important work. By working together, we’re helping to reduce uncertainty and anxiety, and supporting greater independence for patients, visitors and staff accessing the hospital.”

The RJAH Charity funded AccessAble for Shropshire’s specialist orthopaedic hospital.

The Detailed Access Guides are free to use and easy to find by visiting the RJAH website.