Accessibility

Oldham residents who rely on screen readers, keyboards or translation tools to use the internet now have a mixed experience on the NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care website. While the site offers Recite Me software that can read pages aloud, switch languages and change colours, several barriers remain for people with visual or motor impairments.

The care partnership admits that older PDF files, including board papers that explain how local health money is spent, cannot be read properly by screen readers. Online forms are hard to complete without a mouse, and users cannot jump past the same header links each time they open a new page. Maps on the 'home' and 'my borough' sections also stop enlarging after a certain point, making detailed neighbourhood information difficult to see.

Staff say they will audit every PDF published before 31 March 2026 and shift essential documents into easier-to-read web pages where possible. Any new request for information in large print, braille, audio or easy-read format should receive a reply within seven days, and the phone line 0161 742 6023 is open for people who want to book a British Sign Language interpreter for face-to-face meetings.

The statement, last reviewed on 30 January 2025, classes the site as only partially compliant with national accessibility rules. Live video streams are exempt from captioning, and text spacing cannot be adjusted, leaving some users with dyslexia or low vision without full control over layout.

Until the promised fixes arrive, disabled residents who need council or NHS documents in an accessible form may have to ask separately for each file or visit in person with pre-arranged support.