This website is run by the NHS Business Services Authority. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:
- listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of NVDA)
We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
How accessible this website is
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible, as:
- you can not zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
- you can not navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
- some images do not have a text alternative, so people using a screen reader cannot access the information
- the text will not reflow in a single column when you change the size of the browser window
- you can not modify the line height or spacing of text
- most older MS documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software
- some of our online forms are difficult to navigate using just a keyboard
- you can not skip to the main content when using a screen reader
- there’s a limit to how far you can magnify the map on our ‘Contact us’ page
How to request content in an accessible format
If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille, you can contact us by:
Email: accessibility@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 5 working days.
This inbox is only for accessibility queries. This inbox is not for technical queries or IT problems. If you have a query that is not about accessibility, go to the ‘Contact us’ section of this page.
Reporting accessibility problems with this website
We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems that are not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, you can contact us by:
Email: accessibility@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
This inbox is only for accessibility queries. This inbox is not for technical queries or IT problems. If you have a query that is not about accessibility, go to the ‘Contact us’ section of this page.
Enforcement procedure
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).
Contact us
For all queries not accessibility related, contact us at nhsbsa.pensionsmember@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
The NHS Business Services Authority is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Compliance status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.
Non-accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations
Zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.10 Reflow.
Some pages fail text styles. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.12 (Text Spacing).
Some images do not have a text alternative, so people using a screen reader cannot access the information. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (non-text content).
Pages do not identify the language for the screen. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 3.1.1 (Language of Page).
The web page relies on colour to emphasise invalid actions on the page. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.1 (Use of Colour).
Form labels and headings are not correctly styled on some pages. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.6 (Headings and Labels).
This web page is poorly titled and may cause a screen reader user to not correctly identify the screen correctly. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.2 (Page Titled).
Some web page links can not be determined. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context).
Web pages do not notify of user inactivity. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.2.6 (Timeouts).
It’s not possible to navigate all of the website using speech recognition software. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value) & 4.1.3 (Status Messages).
We plan to fix all the accessibility issues. When we publish new content we'll make sure they meet accessibility standards.
Disproportionate burden
Not applicable.
Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
PDFs and other documents
Some of our PDFs and Word documents are essential to providing our services. For example, we have forms published as Word documents. By April 2022, we plan to either fix these or replace them with accessible HTML pages.
The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services.
Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.
What we’re doing to improve accessibility
We’re committed to making sure this website is compliant to WCAG 2.1 ‘AA’ standard.
Every new released website will be designed, built and tested to meet 'AA' standards by default.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 21 September 2020. It was last reviewed on 30 September 2021.
This website was last tested on 15 September 2020. The test was carried out by NHSBSA Implementation Analyst team.
We used this approach to deciding on a sample of pages to test:
- each unique page / style template that is used within the website
- all functionality being tested (regardless of how many pages this requires) e.g. radio buttons, content pages, search bars, text input fields etc
- the most well-travelled user paths through the system in question
- the most complex user paths through the system in question
- documentation / content stored within the system (MS documents)
We tested the website screens to meet ‘AA’ WCAG 2.1 standards, using manual and automated tests.
We run each webpage through automated Wave, Lighthouse and Axe accessibility tools then manually test with screen readers (NVDA) and standards checklists.
These checklists contain standards that have been compiled using WCAG, NHS service manual and GDS guidance.