Accessibility statement

It does not apply to content on ouh.nhs.uk subdomains (for example, cpd.ouh.nhs.uk).

The information on the OUH website's job vacancies pages is populated via a feed from trac.jobs. Read the accessibility statement for trac.jobs

This website is run by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website.

For example, that means you should be able to:

• change colours, contrast levels and fonts
• zoom in up to 400 percent without the text spilling off the screen
• navigate the website using just a keyboard
• listen to the website using a screen reader

We've also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet: My Computer My Way has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible. In particular:

• Documents - many older documents have accessibility issues, such as being tagged incorrectly, insufficient colour contrast, or using images to present text. You can request this information in a different format using the 'Feedback and contact information' (below).
• Image galleries - the thumbnail images have text alternatives but there is no alt attribute on the larger images that they link to. Please use the thumbnail images for this information.

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, Easy Read, audio recording or Braille:

Email: web.editor@ouh.nhs.uk

Tel: 01865 231471

We'll consider your request and get back to you in 20 days.

If you cannot view the maps on our hospital pages, call or email us for directions:

Email: web.editor@ouh.nhs.uk

Tel: 01865 231471

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We're always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we're not meeting accessibility requirements, contact:

OUH Web Communications Officer: web.editor@ouh.nhs.uk

Tel: 01865 231471

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the 'accessibility regulations'). If you're not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person

Below is some information that you may find helpful when contacting us by phone or visiting us in person. For further information, or to find out how we can help you, contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).

Do you need an interpreter?

If you need a language or D/deaf interpreter, please tell your GP. They will advise us when they refer you to our services, so we can organise an interpreter for you. If you have not told your GP, please let the department / ward you are due to visit know as soon as possible, so they can arrange an interpreter for you.

Telephone language interpreting is usually readily available, but we can also provide face to face or video language interpreting if needed.

D/deaf interpreting can be provided face to face or via video.

British Sign Language users can also contact us through InterpretersLive! Please visit Sign language interpreting service for more details.

Disabled access

Our main outpatients departments and many of our buildings have disabled access and disabled accessible toilet facilities. If you need help, please let the reception know how we can assist you.

Learning disabilities and dementia

We advise all patients with learning disabilities and dementia to bring a carer or relative / friend with them to their appointment. Our clinic team will be able to support you. If you need help, please contact the Patient Experience Team:

Email: patient.experience@ouh.nhs.uk

Tel: 01865 740892

Technical information about this website's accessibility

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

Please see 'Disproportionate burden' (below).

Disproportionate burden

An audit of this website, in which a sample of pages was tested, highlighted a number of issues specific to individual pages. Most of these issues have been fixed but similar issues are likely to occur elsewhere.

The issues can be broadly grouped as follows.

• Text alternatives for images. The alternative text (alt text) needs improving on some of our images. For example, some alt text describes what the image looks like rather than reflecting the purpose of the image.
• Images that contain text when the text should have been presented in another way.
• Use of colour in infographics, charts and other images. Some of our images have insufficient contrast and colour is occasionally used as the only way to convey meaning (for example, colour-coded charts).
• Content that is structured incorrectly, such as pages where information sits under the wrong heading, or heading levels have been skipped.
• Link text that requires improvement. In particular, there are some pages where the link text has been deleted but the link itself has remained behind. The link isn't visible on the page but may be detected by screen readers.

The only way to identify and fix these is to review each page. Due to the scale of this website, we believe that doing so would constitute a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations (regulation 7).

Instead each page will be reviewed as and when it is updated. We are also undertaking a website review to delete unnecessary information. This will form part of our accessibility roadmap.

Documents

There are many documents published on the OUH website that are not yet accessible, but are essential to the business of the Trust and patient care.

These include:

• Trust Board and Council of Governors meeting papers and documents up to July 2020
• clinical referral forms / protocols
• patient leaflets.

In addition, the retention schedule for Communications in the Retention NHS Records Management Code of Practice requires that certain documents be held on the OUH website for a minimum of six years.

We believe that to update and recreate all these as accessible documents at one time would constitute a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations (regulation 7).

We have now put measures in place to replace documents uploaded to the OUH website on a 'rolling basis', by:

• providing accessible templates for staff to use when writing meeting papers
• creating accessible templates used by our in-house graphic design department for patient leaflets and other documents intended for online publication
• supporting our clinical staff on a case-by-case basis with recreating clinical protocols, guides and forms in an accessible format whenever they come up for review.

If you need help to access a document, please contact us.

Email: web.editor@ouh.nhs.uk

Tel: 01865 231471

Content that's not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

PDFs and other documents

The accessibility regulations, regulation 4 2(a) do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they're not essential to providing our services. We will make sure that documents published from 23 September 2020 meet accessibility standards.

Video and audio files

The accessibility regulations, regulation 4 2(b) do not require us to fix pre-recorded time-based media published before 23 September 2020. We will make sure that new video and audio files meet accessibility standards.

Maps

The accessibility regulations, regulation 4 2(d) has an exemption for online maps, as long as essential information is provided in an accessible digital manner.

Third party content

We embed third party content including:

• Facebook and Twitter feeds
• Social media buttons
• Google Fonts
• Google Maps
• Videos from YouTube and Vimeo

We also use a third party image gallery. This has been configured to be as accessible as possible, but does not allow us to put alt attributes on the larger versions of the images that appear whenever you click on a thumbnail image. A text alternative is available on the thumbnail images.

The accessibility regulations, regulation 4 2(e) has an exemption for third party content that is neither funded by us, nor developed by us, nor under our control.

What we're doing to improve accessibility

The website is subject to an ongoing review as updates are requested by departments within the Trust. As each page is updated it will be checked for accessibility, a process that will lead to high-use areas being fully accessible first.

The Trust is in the process of developing an accessibility roadmap. We also plan to commission an independent audit of areas of concern.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 22 September 2020. It was last reviewed on 07 December 2022.

This website was audited on 18 September 2020. The audit was carried out in-house, by our Information Management and Technology Web Team.

We used this approach to deciding on a sample of pages to test:

Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology (WCAG-EM)

Documents were not tested as part of this audit but have been subject to an ongoing review since 2019. This has identified a large number of issues with PDFs and other document types. Processes are being put in place to resolve these for new / updated documents and we are planning to commission an independent review of the website that will include its documents.

This website has undergone regular testing since the initial audit, with content and functionality being tested on a 'rolling basis' as it is created or updated.