Why are NHS trusts buying Accessibility overlays?

The NHS is bound by the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018. These regulations require websites and apps to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and to be usable by everyone - including disabled people.

Unfortunately, some NHS trusts are relying on so-called accessibility overlays, which I've written about in more depth. These are plug-in toolbars that claim to “fix” accessibility problems automatically. These overlays don’t make websites compliant. In fact, they can create new barriers, often make things worse, interfere with assistive technologies like screen readers, and give organisations a false sense of compliance. Sometimes people mean well but often they are sold products that don’t work.

NHS Trusts using Accessibility overlays

After some short amount of time doing some research, I discoverd at least 15 NHS trusts that have currently deployed overlays (there could easily more).

1. Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
2. Ashford & St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
3. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
4. Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH)
5. Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW)
6. Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
7. Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
8. Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust
9. NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS)
10. Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
11. Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
12. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust
13. University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB)
14. University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
15. University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

Why this matters

By using overlays instead of making their websites genuinely accessible, these trusts are failing to comply with accessibility law. That puts them at legal risk, wastes money, but more importantly, it lets down the disabled patients, staff, and carers who rely on accessible information.

The way forward

Accessibility can’t be bolted on with a widget. NHS trusts need to commit to building accessibility into their websites from the ground up. Stay tuned for part 2.