The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (“the Commission”) has provided legal assistance to a person in respect of their complaint under the Equal Status Acts against a healthcare service. The complaint related to the accessibility of communications including appointment letters. The person has a serious visual impairment. He contended that sending him appointment letters by post did not enable him to access health services independently and that such correspondence should be sent to him by email as a reasonable accommodation in light of his disability.
With the assistance from the Commission, the person has now settled their claim on terms satisfactory to both parties. In the settlement, the healthcare service committed to use its best endeavours to ensure all communications going forward will be provided in an accessible and durable medium.
Director of the Commission, Deirdre Malone said:
“The Commission is delighted to have provided legal assistance to challenge the failure of this public service to provide accessible communications. It is imperative that service users are able to access medical services independently and free from any discrimination. The settlement of this case is a welcome development and it is hoped that there will be wider benefit to others in a similar position.”Our client said:
“I also hope that there will be wider benefit to others in a similar position, and I hope that going forward the healthcare service will engage with service users such as myself, to ensure an equitable access to medical services independently and free from any discrimination. The legal assistance from IHREC was clear, quick and delivered in a very friendly way.”ENDS/ For further information, please contact: Sarah Clarkin IHREC Communications Manager, 01 8592641 / 087 4687760 sarah.clarkin@ihrec.ie Follow us on twitter @_IHREC