The below information is from Disabilities Fife`s Facebook page
This year, within the NHS Fife area eighteen GP Surgeries have moved to a new online Consultation and appointment service.
Sadly, some surgeries have taken the view that the only way to access their service is to complete an online form.
This means for the general population 40% of their patients are unable to get a GP’s appointment because they do not have access to the Internet. For the disabled community, that number is 80% and in those cases. It is our view those surgeries not offering a reception phone-in service are inadvertently discriminating against the disabled, the pregnant, infirm, mentally ill, those that are deaf, people that are partially sighted and people that are blind.
Other GP groups have decided to offer both. That is a phone call to reception for those that cannot use the service or complete a form for those that are able.
This is a good option, and we must compliment the Inverkeithing Medical Group and Park Road Practice, Rosyth moving to this model.
However, there is still an issue as the disabled, mentally ill, etc all can access the sixty or more forms easily online. There is no warning that using this form system may not work for this group of people. That warning should exist on the button that takes one to the Search Area and the supporting sixty forms or more.
In our view and that of the software we used to check accessibility, all the forms and the search areas fail on Accessibility and Usability. The tests we have done are at a very high level. It is our view that we could not do a full and extensive Accessibility audit, If we did it, it is our view that the number of errors would significantly increase by a multiple of 4 or 5. Therefore, we have done a quick test that includes usability, but what is not mentioned here is the broken back button on all browsers for this system and the text size of the forms appear to below both recommendations for text size of 12pt (minimum) and 14 pt (recommended) by RNIB. There are many other issues about the length and complexity of the forms that apply generally but also relate to the mentally ill.
Below is a list of current errors across the booking system as at 20 10 2020 they are:-
Errors: 166 Contrast issues: 458 (Both of these a clear fail) and Cautions 241
We have raised the issues with Carole Potter, the Chief Executive of NHS Fife and Inverkeithing Medical Group (IMG), IMG have raised the issues with their supplier but there appears to be no response so far
We are aware of nine of the eighteen surgeries using the service.
These are in alphabetic order:-
- Eden Villa Practice, Cupar https://www.online-consult.co.uk/org/eden-villa-practice
- Hospital Hill Surgery, Dunfermline, https://www.online-consult.co.uk/org/hospital-hill-surgery
- Inverkeithing Medical Group,https://www.inverkeithingmedicalgroup.scot.nhs.uk/index.aspx
- Kennoway Medical Group, https://www.online-consult.co.uk/org/kennoway-medical-group
- Methilhaven Surgery, https://www.online-consult.co.uk/org/north-glen-medical-practice
- Nicol Street Surgery, Kirkcaldy: https://www.online-consult.co.uk/org/nicol-street-surgery
- North Glen Medical Practice, Glenrothes https://www.online-consult.co.uk/org/north-glen-medical-practice
- Park Road Practice https://www.online-consult.co.uk/org/park-road-practice (It is clear that patients have a choice )
- Scoonie Medical Practice https://www.online-consult.co.uk/org/scoonie-medical-practice