National Care Records Service accessibility statement

The National Care Records Service (NCRS) is run by NHS England. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this service. That means you should be able to: 

• change colours, contrast levels and fonts 

• zoom in up to 200% without the text spilling off the screen 

• navigate most of the website using just a keyboard 

• navigate most of the website using speech recognition software 

• listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver) 

AbilityNet (opens in a new tab) has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability. 

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to some non-compliances and exemptions. 

Non-compliances 

Some features of NCRS are not accessible due to the design, including: 
 

• line height and text spacing cannot be adjusted 

• some PDFs are not accessible for screen readers because these are provided to NCRS by third parties and we cannot change them 

• some content may be obscured on small devices 

• some items receiving keyboard focus may be obscured by sticky or floating components 

• on the 'Find a patient' page, keyboard focus starts on the first field of the 'By NHS Number' or 'By Postcode' tabs instead of the 'Skip to main content' link – this is so that users can get to the search fields quickly 

• patient demographic details are displayed in a banner anchored to the top of the screen - this may obscure elements with focus, but the banner is there for clinical safety reasons 

• some fields are not labelled as optional 

• session timeouts cannot be configured – they are set based on user activity, and some are set by external authentication services 

NHS England is committed to making sure our online services are accessible to all users, and that they comply with AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2), giving due regard to GDS service design manual guidance and in line with The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018. 

Disproportionate burden 

We are not planning to fix some non-compliances due to disproportionate burden: 
 

• on the 'Find a patient' page, dynamically updated content is not read out by screen readers 

• the minimum supported screen resolution is 1024 by 768 pixels because the majority of NCRS users are on tablet or desktop 

• a 'Skip to main content' link is not available when using a screen reader 

• tables in a patient's Summary Care Record require horizontal scrolling when viewed at 200% zoom or on small mobile devices 

• some online forms are difficult to navigate using only a keyboard or with a screen reader 

Content that is not within scope of accessibility regulations 

Some accessibility issues we are not required to fix because they are not within scope of accessibility regulations, including:
 

• the smartcard role 'FFFFF' may not be understood when a read out by a screen reader – this role is specific to locum pharmacy users, who receive training on its meaning 

• some content may become obscured at 400% zoom 

The way you access our service may differ based on the local trust that you work for. 

If you are having issues with accessing the service, contact your Registration Authority (RA) Manager who will be able to offer advice based on the trust you work for. 

Alternatively, you can raise the issue with the National Service Desk on: 
 

• telephone: 0300 303 5035 

• email: [email protected] 

We're always aiming to improve the accessibility of this service. If you find any problems that are not listed on this page, contact the National Service Desk on: 
 

• telephone: 0300 303 5035 

• email: [email protected] 

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) (opens in a new tab) 

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

When designing and developing new features, we will follow accessibility best practice and test for WCAG 2.2 AA compliance. 

We monitor feedback and will work to resolve any accessibility issues that are reported by users. 

This statement was last updated in October 2025. 

This website was last tested against the WCAG 2.2 AA on 27 November 2024 by The Digital Accessibility Centre.