Reasonable adjustments report
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Healthwatch Newcastle engaged autistic people and people with a learning disability through focus groups to identify the reasonable adjustments that matter most to them.
Autistic people and people with a learning disability in Newcastle continue to face significant barriers when accessing GPs. Although reasonable adjustments are required under the Equality Act 2010 and are available in some GPs, awareness and consistent implementation remain limited among both patients and GP staff. As a result, many people do not access or benefit from reasonable adjustments that could substantially improve their healthcare experiences and outcomes.
Without proper reasonable adjustments, individuals may experience communication difficulties, sensory overload, misunderstandings about medical advice, and challenges navigating GP systems. These barriers can lead to:
- Missed appointments.
- Delayed diagnoses.
- Poorer health outcomes.
- Increased reliance on unpaid carers/caregivers.
Healthwatch Newcastle’s 2023 engagement work with participants who are autistic people, people with a learning disability, professionals in the Integrated Care Board (ICB), and nine GPs highlights these health impact challenges.
While participants reported more positive experiences when reasonable adjustments were in place, awareness of the right to request these adjustments was consistently low. Barriers included:
- Communication challenges.
- Uncertainty about what adjustments are available.
- Concerns about staff attitudes towards a reasonable adjustment request.
Participants identified three priority areas for improvement: communication and interaction, access to services, and adaptations to the physical environment.
The issue is part of a wider national challenge but is particularly relevant in Newcastle and the wider North-east, where health inequalities are more pronounced. Addressing this problem requires a proactive, person-centred approach rather than a one-size-fits-all model of care. Healthwatch Newcastle proposed a pilot project in five GPs in Newcastle, delivered in partnership with the ICB.