NHS Reasonable Adjustment Flag

motorhead

Has anyone here had any practical experience of the NHS Reasonable Adjustment Flag?
I've only recently heard about it. I went into my GP's surgery on Tuesday armed with a printout from the NHS website so they couldn't deny the existence of such a thing (they've got previous on that).
I showed them the print and asked how I could get the Flag applied to me. Of course, they'd never heard of it but took a photocopy and said they'd send it up to the practice manager. I popped back in this afternoon to see how it was going to be told "you've already got it". I said "got what"? This was rather amusing to me as one of the adjustment's I would have asked for was for them not to be so damn vague. "The flag. We gave you the flag 2 days ago" was the reply.
So it looks like I've got a flag which isn't flagging anything as I never got the chance even to mention never mind negotiate what I'd like flagged up. It all seems really weird to me. I may be getting flagged out.
Does anyone know if/how I can look up my own flag and see what's on it?

Adrian_Scope

Hello @motorhead. You should be able to request your GP share what is on your flag with you.
However, it's my understanding that the reasonable adjustment flag system hasn't been fully rolled our across the NHS yet. 

This information page on NHS reasonable adjustments says:

Current activity

Work is being undertaken to start the process leading to first of type direct integration of the Reasonable Adjustment FHIR API with clinical systems. This will complement the current functionality available in NCRS and lay the groundwork for wider adoption of the Flag across the NHS. Current expectation is that this work on integration will be completed by the end of 2023, after which the capability will be made available for wider use in systems across health and care.

motorhead

I'm pretty sure that even if I did know who my GP is ( they keep changing it and not telling me ) they couldn't share anything with me as there is nothing to share. The flag is not flagging anything. It looks like it's just another one of the empty platitudes they throw at me in the hope that I'll go away.
I agree that the scheme is in it's infancy but it could be a game changer for disabled folk. Looks like I'll need to wait to the end of the year or, more likely, next year before they get things in order.
Most of the current literature seems to be for NHS staff rather than service users, itis peppered with arcane NHS jargon. BTW, FHIR API stands for Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources Application Programming Interfaces and NCRS is National Care Records Service.

Camellia

Thank you so much @motorhead for raising this topic and to @Adrian_Scope for providing the link on it which I will be printing out to show staff at my GP practice. 

It would be extremely good if disabled people could register their reasonable adjustment flagging with one section of the NHS that is especially set up for it - so that it can be managed properly and be under the control of the disabled person themselves.

I get the impression with the description of the pilot that it is too fragmented and hap hazard - you are dependent on NHS staff actually knowing about it and they’re not being attitudinal barriers. This is particularly important for those with invisible disabilities such as autism without significant intellectual impairment. 

It is very timely that this discussion came to my attention as it is something I am fighting for now. 

I am also fighting to have my summary care record to be corrected as it has numerous factual inaccuracies and is written in what I consider to be a somewhat disrespectful tone with regards to my autism. Such poorly written summaries can unfortunately negatively impact how the autistic individual may be perceived and treated as a patient. 

L_Volunteer

As you say @Camellia, it will be really useful to put the disabled person in control of the NHS plan. This is likely to happen after the initial rollout though, and the barriers that come with roll-outs (such as getting to know it exists and comfortable actioning it).

It is a shame that you are used to being disrespected by the NHS - which is supposed to be there to take care of you. Unfortunately, as an autistic person, it is something too many of us are 'used to' though, isn't it?  Hopefully, your fight will help to get this changed for yourself and for many others 

Camellia

@L_Volunteer

thanks for your empathetic message. So nice to have someone get it. 

I do hope it doesn’t take too long for the reasonable adjustment flagging scheme to be adapted to have the flagging under the control of the disabled person themselves. 

motorhead

I think at the moment you could tell them anything which is why they aren't wanting to put anything on the flags.