This accessibility statement applies to https://www.nhsimas.nhs.uk/ only.

This website is run by NHS IMAS. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

• zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
• navigate most of the website using just a keyboard

We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

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

The website is designed to be compatible with assistive technologies and the last two versions of the browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari. In older browsers, some aspects of the website may not display optimally. The website is not designed for Internet Explorer.

Where we provide links to other organisation’s websites we do not take responsibility for their accessibility standards.

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

• Alternative text is missing from some images
• Adjacent links go to the same location
• Embedded YouTube videos aren’t fully accessible to screen reader software
• Some of our videos do not have captions or audio descriptions. We also link to videos that we do not own that may not have captions and full accessibility in place
• Our cookie policy cannot be closed by keyboard navigation
• Most PDF’s, PowerPoints and Word documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software
• Where we provide links to other organisation’s websites we do not take responsibility for their accessibility standards.

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille:

• email nhs.imas@nhs.net
• call 0113 486 0132

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact: 

E-mail: nhs.imas@nhs.net

Phone number: 0113 486 0132

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).

NHS IMAS is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

1. 1.1.1 Non-text Content (Level A) - Missing alternative text

2. 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) (Level A) Redundant link - Adjacent links go to the same location

3. Our cookie policy notification cannot be closed through keyboard navigation. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.1.1 (Keyboard). 

4. The site makes use of multiple PDFs, word documents and PowerPoints. Some are a legal requirement. These are not accessible to some screen reader software. 

5. Where we provide links to other organisation’s websites we do not take responsibility for their accessibility standards.

PDF documents since 2018

Some of our content across the site is in PDF format where a durable format is needed. We will be reviewing all PDF documents. However, we have examined documents published after 23 September 2018 and we've assessed the cost of fixing these documents. We believe that doing so would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations.

Pre-recorded time-based media

Pre-recorded time based media added to the site prior to 23rd September 2020 don’t have captions or audio descriptions. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.3 (Audio Description or Media Alternative (Pre-recorded). We plan to update these in due course.

We have set out in the disproportionate burden sections of this statement the reasons why we will not be able to resolve some issues. We are fixing content which fails to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard that does not come under the disproportionate burden. We will update this page when issues are fixed.

This statement was prepared on 21st June 2021. It was last reviewed on 18th Septemeber 2023.

This website was last tested on 18th Septemeber 2023. The test was carried out by The Health Informatics Service Web Department. We use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines V2.1 level A and level AA to test how accessible https://www.nhsimas.nhs.uk/ is.

We used this approach to deciding on a sample of pages to test:

• Looked at all mediums used on the site for example text, images, maps, videos, forms etc
• Added at least one page per item to our sample list
• Always include the homepage
• We used Lighthouse to audit each page in the sample for accessibility issues.
• We used Wave to automatically test for accessibility issues on pages that do not need users to sign in.
• We used Axe DevTools to test for accessibility issues on pages that do not need users to sign in.

You can read the full accessibility report here.