Accessibility

Accessibility statement

This accessibility statement applies to the uhbristol.nhs.uk and the waht.nhs.uk websites.

Background

Our University Hospitals Bristol (UH Bristol) and Weston Area Health Trust (WAHT) websites are very old and due for redevelopment. The two Trusts merged in April 2020, to form University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust. We currently have a new temporary corporate website for the newly merged organisation (www.uhbw.nhs.uk) which meets the accessibility requirements.

While we try to make new content accessible to all users, we can't guarantee that every part of each UH Bristol and WAHT site will meet everyone's accessibility needs.

Our websites do feature in-built tools to enable users to alter the way content is viewed using standard templates, e.g. the ability to alter text size.

Standard web browsing software offers options to allow users to alter the way they view content, and we do not deliberately override these options. Our websites explain how to use these tools. If you are a mobile user, the  Scope website has a great guide on how to change the settings on your device to make them more accessible.

There is some content which is difficult to publish in a way that is fully accessible. For example, our Trust newsletter is designed to be printed. While users are welcome to download this document, it is not designed to be an online resource. It is therefore not designed with web accessibility in mind.

The two websites are run by University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol) and Weston Area Health Trust (WAHT). We want as many people as possible to be able to use the website. We know our website is not very accessible; we are in the process of arranging a new website which will meet / exceed accessibility to WCAG 2.1 AA standard. Our website was built prior to most of the accessibility becoming technically available it is therefore lacking a lot of accessibility options. For instance:

• You cannot change colours, contrast levels and fonts.
• You cannot zoom 200% - the webpage will spill off the screen at 175% zoom.
• You cannot navigate the website using a keyboard.
• You can navigate most of the website using a screen reader.
• You can listen to most of the website using a screen reader although some of the words are blurred or lost.

We believe we've made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

Changing browser settings

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

If you are having difficulties viewing our pages, most browsers allow users to change the settings to alter the way pages are displayed, which may improve readability.

Most browsers allow you to:

• Ignore settings specified by a web page.
• Change the text size, style and colour.
• Change the background colour.
• Hide images.

AbilityNet (My Computer My Way) offer 'how to' guides to make your device easier to use.

The guides offer step by step instructions on how to adapt your phone, computer, or tablet to meet your needs. You can search for a specific need (e.g. making text larger) or filter the guides based on your symptoms (e.g. hand tremor) or condition (e.g. dyslexia).

Learn how to change browser settings to improve accessibility.

How we checked our website

We tested using a mixed selection of the website pages from both our websites. We used a mixture of automated testing and manual checks.

Automated tests included: SiteImprove Accessibility Checker, Accessibility Checker, AccessiBe Accessibility Checker, UserWay Accessibility Checker, WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool powered by WebAIM, and Read Aloud screen reader.

Manual checks included using each page without a mouse, viewing the webpages at different zoom settings, and simulating viewing the webpages on varying screen sizes using Google Dev Tools in Chrome and DevTools in Microsoft Edge.

We have listed the issues that did not meet the WCAG V2.1 AA Standard below.

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

• the text will not reflow in a single column when you change the size of the browser window.
• you cannot modify the line height or spacing of text.
• most older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software.
• live video streams do not have captions.
• some of our online forms are difficult to navigate using just a keyboard.
• you cannot skip to the main content when using a screen reader.
• you cannot zoom the page beyond 175% as it will start to cut off parts of the page.

Feedback and contact information

We provide AccessAble guides to facilities, wards and departments at our hospitals. View the UHBW guides on the AccessAble website. 

If you need information on this website in a different format or translation:

Email:communications@uhbw.nhs.uk

Write to us at:  

Communications Team
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
Trust Headquarters
Marlborough Street
Bristol
BS1 3NU

We'll consider your request and get back to you in 3 to 7 days.

Reporting and accessibility problems with this website

We are looking to improve the accessibility of this website by building a new website to replace this old out of date site. Please be aware that we are aware that our website needs improving and plan to do it as soon as this is possible.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the 'accessibility regulations'). If you're not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Technical information about this website's accessibility

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW) is committed to making its websites accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

Our websites are partially compliant with the  Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version V2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

2.1.1 Keyboard

Links within the dropdown menu and font size options for Accessibility are not accessible using a keyboard. The font size options under 'Accessibility' at the top of the webpage are not accessible using the keyboard.

2.4.7 Focus Visible

The keyboard focus is not fully visible on the link for 'Just think first' in the slideshow.

1.4.4 Resize Text

At 200% zoom the web page content is partially cut off.

1.4.10 Reflow Reflow or responsive webs design.

At 400% zoom the web pages do not reflow correctly. The user must scroll horizontally to see the full content.

1.4.5 Images of Text Text image does not adjust well due to spacing and colour contrast.

Refers to 'Just think first' image text in slideshow. Also, Our Vision image text in footer.

1.4.3 Contrast (minimum) Elements missing sufficient colour contrast.

Refers to placeholder text in the search bar at the top of the webpage and text breadcrumb top of webpage/s. Breadcrumb text home icon. Also, in the text and background colours found on webpage/s where gradient backgrounds have been used.

1.1.1 Non-text Content Image button does not have alternative text.

Refers to the magnifying glass at the top of the webpage (alt input missing svg)

2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) and 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value Links are missing or do not have discernible text.

This refers to all article links across the webpage, including 'Coronavirus', 'Royal Voluntary Service', and 'Here to help'. Also, refers to the icon for 'AccessAble' and twitter, Instagram and Facebook social media icons in the footer on webpage/s.

1.1.1 Non-text Content (Level A)

Suspicious alternative text - Alternative text is likely insufficient or contains extraneous information.

Refers to UH Bristol logo alt text found on all pages tested.

1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A)and2.4.1 Bypass Blocks (Level A)

Landmarks such as main content and footer should be built using their corresponding HTML5 element or include a description using "aria-label" attribute and a "role" tag that equals to "content info" or "main". Landmarks such as search, and navigation are tested in other sections.

Refers to home page no page regions or ARIA landmarks were found.

1.4.1 Contrast (Minimum) (Level AA)

Elements that have texts should meet a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 between their foreground (usually text colour) and background colour.

Very low contrast between text and background colours.

Refers to titles such as Call our Switchboard, Your hospitals, Accessible, Find our more, About us, Patients and visitors, Research and Innovation, Research, Audit or Service Evaluation?, Contact Us, Click here etc…

2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide

Refers to Image carousel does not have a pause option.

2.4.3 Focus Order

Refers to layout lacking sequential and meaningful order.

2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) (Level A) also included with 1.1.1 Non-text Content (Level A) *also listed above under 1.1.1 for Search magnifier image*

Images should have an alternative text description that describes both the objects and the embedded text that the image contains, using the "alt" attribute.

Refers to magnifying image in Search box.

Redundant link - adjacent links go to the same URL.

Refers to link titles found in main navigation on all pages tested.

2.4.6 Headings and Labels, include4.1.2 Name, Role, Value

Refers to Form field is not labelled.

Refers to Form elements missing labels.

Refers to Links without any text alternative.

2.4.9 Success Criterion - (Link Purpose (Link Only))

Refers to click here and more links being used as anchor elements where you need to have the surrounding text to understand their purpose.

2.4.10 Section Criterion Section Headings

Refers to Home page has no headings.

2.5.3 Label in Nameincludes4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (Level A)

Buttons should include text explaining their functionality, and if icons are used as buttons, a screen-reader only text or an "aria-label" attribute should be used for that description.

3.1.1 Language of Page

Refers to page language has not been identified (missing or invalid) on all webpages tested.

3.2.4 Success Criterion - Consistent Identification

Elements that have the same functionality across multiple web pages are consistently identified.

Refers to the search box magnifying image top of page.

4.1.1 Parsing (Level A)

Refers to Elements IDs that are not unique.

4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (Level A)

Elements that behave as buttons but are built using other tags such as span, div, or others, should include a "role" attribute that equals to "button".

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

We have requested disproportionate burden regarding all accessibility issues on this website as it will be decommissioned and replaced with a new website which will meet accessibility standards. Please see the disproportionate burden section below.

Disproportionate burden

We have requested an exemption under disproportionate burden regarding all accessibility issues found on this website listed above in the non-accessible content section. This is because this website will be decommissioned and replaced with a new website which will meet accessibility standards. Audits of this platform have identified multiple accessibility issues. There are two fundamental issues with the current website that, due to its age, cannot be fixed. These relate to resize text and reflow. To fully meet the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) our only solution is to build a new website.

Whilst there would unarguably be short-term improvements for our users if we fixed some of the issues on the existing website, we believe this would constitute a disproportionate burden due to the additional costs, as we are focussing investment on building a replacement website which meets regulation requirements. This is a project we already have under way, and we plan to launch the new website in 18 months' time.

A new website would fix all the issues for all our users and enable us to better meet future compliance requirements too.

Content that is not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

PDFs and other documents

Some of our PDFs and Word documents are essential to providing our services. For example, we have PDFs with information on how users can access our services, and forms published as Word documents. In 18 months' time, we plan to either fix these or replace them with accessible HTML pages.

Live video

We do not plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.

What we're doing to improve accessibility

We plan to improve accessibility on this website by replacing it with a new accessible website in 18 months' time.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 24 July 2023. It was last reviewed on 24 July 2023. This website was last tested on 10 July 2023 using a combination of manual and automated testing.