‘6 Steps’ Accessible Information Campaign Launches

Posted on June 11th, 2026

Do you need help communicating?

Do you, or a family member or someone you care for, have any communication difficulties or needs? As part of our commitment to providing safe care for patients, all NHS services must follow these 6 steps to help support you:

• Check if you have any communication needs
• Record those needs on your health records
• Ensure those needs are easily visible on your health records
• Share those needs with other health services, if you are being referred
• Make sure those needs are met as part of all of your care.
• Regularly review and update information about your needs

This means that you can tell us what your communication needs are – and expect our full support in meeting them.

This includes getting help from staff with things like requesting an interpreter for your medical appointments (BSL or another language), translating a patient letter for you, or being able to request information in a format that meets your needs (such as braille, large print or easy read).

All NHS organisations across Cheshire and Merseyside have language and interpretation arrangements in place for supporting patients with communication needs to safely access care – so please just ask a member of your healthcare team for the help you need.

What if this doesn’t happen?

You have the right to complain. You can do this at any time by contacting Kerrie Draco, Practice Business Manager & Partner.  Further information: Riverside Surgery Complaint Procedure

Alternatively, you can contact the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Patient Advice Complaint Team at www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/contact/complaints .

Getting further help

Did you know that if you have a communication need or difficulty, you can contact the emergency services using either the Emergency SMS or Relay UK service from anywhere in the UK?

What do I need to do?

• To use Emergency SMS – text the word ‘register’ to 999 to set up the service on any mobile phone or device, or go to: emergencysms.net

• To use Relay UK – dial ‘18000’ through the Next Generation Text (NGT) app, or from any textphone now to get set up, or go to: www.ngts.org.uk

Please don’t wait for an emergency situation before doing this – get prepared by setting up your access now, just in case.