TPT calls for accessible digital NHS as new report reveals barriers for blind and partially sighted people

Date posted: 28th October 2026

Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) is calling for greater accessibility across digital NHS services following the publication of a new parliamentary report revealing the difficulties blind and partially sighted people face when using the NHS App.

The report, Accessible Healthcare in a Digital NHS, was published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Eye Health and Visual Impairment, which TPT co-sponsors.

It found that just 3.1% of people responding to its survey rated the NHS App as fully accessible, while 53% said it was not accessible or only slightly accessible.

With the Government planning to make the NHS App the digital front door to healthcare by 2028, the findings raise concerns about how blind and partially sighted people will access appointments, medical information and other essential services.

TPT contributes evidence to parliamentary inquiry

TPT’s Policy and Campaigns Manager, Eamonn Dunne, gave evidence to the APPG’s parliamentary inquiry in June 2026.

The session brought together people with lived experience of sight loss, clinicians, NHS England representatives and accessibility experts to examine the barriers people face when accessing digital healthcare.

The subsequent report draws on this evidence alongside a stakeholder survey conducted between May and July 2026.

The survey found that half of respondents who needed their healthcare information in an accessible format rarely or never received it in that format.

Among respondents who used the NHS App, 46% reported finding it difficult or very difficult to use, while 56% identified reading letters and documents as one of the most challenging tasks.

Eamonn Dunne, Policy and Campaigns Manager at TPT, said:

“Too many blind and partially sighted people encounter barriers before they can even access healthcare, whether that’s registering for the NHS App, receiving information in accessible formats, or having to repeatedly explain their access needs at every appointment.

“When people experience poor or inaccessible care, trust can quickly be lost, and many disengage from services that are intended to support them. The APPG’s work is helping to shine a light on these persistent health inequalities, and as more NHS services move online, ensuring disabled people are not left behind has never been more important.”

Continuing our work to make healthcare accessible

The report’s findings echo concerns that blind and partially sighted people have previously raised with TPT and our Sight Loss Councils.

Our earlier Listening Month research identified access to health information as a major concern, with very few respondents reporting positive experiences.

Through our ongoing #MakeHealthAccessible campaign, we work to improve access to healthcare information and services, including promoting the NHS Accessible Information Standard.

The Standard is intended to ensure people with communication needs receive information in a format they can access and appropriate support to make informed decisions about their care.

As more healthcare services move online, these requirements must remain a priority. Patients should be able to access their own records, understand appointment information and communicate their needs without having to rely on someone else.

What needs to change?

The APPG’s report makes five recommendations for Government and NHS England, including involving blind and partially sighted people in the design of digital services, improving accessibility standards and ensuring patients only need to record their accessibility requirements once.

It also calls for stronger accountability, measurable accessibility targets for the NHS App and continued access to non-digital healthcare services.

These recommendations reflect the issues TPT continues to raise through its campaigning and work with NHS organisations.

TPT will continue to champion the experiences of blind and partially sighted people and press for healthcare services that everyone can access.

Read the full report atAccessible Healthcare in a Digital NHS, APPG on Eye Health and Visual Impairment

Find out more aboutTPT’s #MakeHealthAccessible campaign