Accessibility statement

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible and we are working to improve this:

• Some older documents (PDF, Word etc) are not accessible
• Some videos do not have transcripts / subtitles
• Although the vast majority of images and tables include alternative text, there may be some with information that is not fully accessible. We have claimed exemptions for this in some cases such as complex performance data in our Board reports

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).

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website.

If you find any problems or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, please email our Website Accessibility address where your email will be picked up and responded to by our Communications Team. 

This accessibility statement applies to www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk. 

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

The website was tested in January 2024 for compliance against the WCAG 2.2AA accessibility standards.

Compliance status

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

Areas that are not compliant

• Some older PDF and Word documents are not fully accessible. We are working to add webpage versions of these documents and/or accessible documents instead where we can.
• Some videos do not include transcripts / subtitles.
• Although the vast majority of images and tables include alternative text that explain what they show, there may be some with information that is not fully accessible. For example, complex infographics that include a lot of information.

Areas where exemptions apply

• The professional guidance on our website includes a large number of clinical treatment protocols with complex algorithms and flow charts – it would place a disproportionate burden (and potentially a clinical risk) if we tried to convert these into accessible documents or webpages.
• Our Trust Board papers include complex performance data and charts taken from our business intelligence dashboard. It would place a disproportionate burden to try and convert this into an accessible format or to add alternative text to hundreds of these charts each month and would impede the Trust Board’s ability to monitor and analyse organisational performance.

Content not within the scope of the accessibility guidelines

Documents

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23rd September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services. We will review the feasibility and business case of providing compliant PDFs in future for essential information or see how we can make it available in other accessible formats. 

Live video

We do not plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.

This statement was prepared on 8th March 2024. It is based on:

• Technical assessment of the website content management system (CMS), design, layout, navigation and functionality by Frank, our website developers. 
• Self-assessment of website content (including images and documents) by The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre’s Communications Team.

Website browsers

Website browsers often have useful tools (known as ‘extensions’) that can help you by reading pages aloud to you. There is a useful article about this on Understood.org.  

Chrome

• Click on the three dots in the top right corner to open the menu.
• Click on ‘more tools’.
• Click on ‘extensions’.
• Click on burger menu in top left corner (three black lines).
• At the bottom of the menu click on ‘open Chrome web store’.
• Search for the extension – we used ‘Read Aloud’. (It is important you use an extension that is well reviewed and has a large number of users. We cannot guarantee their effectiveness.)
• Click ‘Add to Chrome’.

FireFox 

• Firefox has a built-in ‘Reader View’ button, next to the address bar at the top of the browser.
• ‘Reader View’ displays the page’s main text content with simple styling and no distracting clutter.
• On the left of the text there are tools allowing you to listen to the page read aloud or change the text size.
• There are also extensions that can be installed, for example those listed on the Mozilla website.

Safari (desktop)

• In the Safari application menu, go to Edit > Speech > Start speaking.
• You can choose to read the whole page (including the navigation and everything else), or you can click the 'reader view' icon if you only want to read the main page content.

Microsoft Edge 

• Clicking on 'Settings and more' in the top right corner of the Microsoft Edge browser will bring up the 'Read aloud' option, which lets you have text from web pages read to you.
• You can choose from several voices. Find out more from Microsoft.

Operating Systems

Some Operating Systems have built-in options:

• Chrome OS / Chromebooks have native support. Read more from Google. 
• Windows lets users install ‘Apps’ that can read content out loud. Read more from Microsoft.
• IOS has built-in settings for reading content aloud. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content to select your preferences. Read more in the iPhone User Guide.

Android devices: TalkBack

• TalkBack is an Accessibility Service for Android which helps blind and vision-impaired users interact with their devices more easily. The application adds spoken, audible and vibration feedback to your device. 
• TalkBack provides spoken feedback as you navigate around the screen, by describing your actions and informing you of any notifications. It is a system application and comes pre-installed on most Android devices. The application is updated when the Accessibility Service is improved.
• Read how to turn on TalkBack on your Android device.

Apple devices: VoiceOver

• VoiceOver is a fully featured screen reader for Mac, iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.  
• It is already built into the operating system, so you don't need to download any additional software.
• VoiceOver reads aloud everything on the screen including documents and web pages. 
• It enables the navigation of your computer or device by keyboard or touch alone.
• Read more about Apps which work well with VoiceOver.

NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access)

• NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) is a free, downloadable screen reader available in a number of languages. 
• It can read everything on the screen aloud in a synthesised voice enabling you to use your computer using just the keyboard or a combination of keyboard and mouse.
• The software can also be installed and run from a USB pen drive and supports the use of a braille display.
• The software is free to download and use, but a donation to support further development can be made.
• Go to the NVDA website for more information and to download it.

The information on this page has been provided thanks to Frank, our website developers.