What Is the NHS Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag?

A GP appointment, hospital visit or care assessment can be harder than it needs to be when staff don't know what support you need. The NHS reasonable adjustment digital flag is designed to change that, by making sure your access needs are known wherever you receive care.

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What are reasonable adjustments in the NHS?

Under the Equality Act 2010, health and social care services must make reasonable adjustments so that people with disabilities are not put at a disadvantage when accessing care. Reasonable adjustments in healthcare might include:

• longer appointments, or the first appointment of the day
• a quiet place to wait
• information in easy read, large print or British Sign Language
• step-free access or a hoist
• bringing a carer or supporter with you

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💡 Read more about your rights as a person with a disability

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What is the NHS reasonable adjustment digital flag?

The reasonable adjustment digital flag is a national marker on your health record. It allows publicly funded health and social care services to record, share and view the reasonable adjustments you need, so you don't have to explain them every time you see someone new.

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The flag is held on NHS England's National Care Records Service. This means a nurse in A&E, a hospital consultant or a community care team can see the same information as your GP when you're receiving care.

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Reasonable adjustments in health and social care: what's changed

NHS England published a new information standard for the flag in December 2025. All publicly funded NHS and social care services in England were required to be able to share, read and update the information on the flag by 30 September 2026. So as of now, NHS Services are supposed to have processes to identify and record patients' needs using the flag, and review them if they change. This also comes with the requirement for staff to be trained to understand reasonable adjustments. This should mean a smoother experience for disabled patients when accessing care, helping to reduce repeated explanations.

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How to get a reasonable adjustment digital flag

• Ask your GP practice to add the flag to your record. Any health or care professional involved in your care can also help.
• Be specific about what adjustments would help you - such as communication needs or extra time in appointments.
• Keep it up to date by asking for a review if your needs change.

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Reasonable adjustments for disabled people beyond healthcare

Your right to reasonable adjustments doesn't stop at the hospital door. Employers have a duty to make them too, from flexible working hours to adapted equipment. Venues, shops and transport providers are also required by law to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled people can access their services on the same footing.

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💡 Find out why you might need a disability passport at work

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About the National Disability & Carers Card Scheme‍

The National Disability & Carers Card scheme was set up in 2019 by carers to make everyday life and access easier for people with disabilities and those who care for them. The scheme supports 300,000 card holders and provides easy-to-carry visual identification that helps people avoid repeatedly explaining their disability or caring role. The National Disability Card is accepted as proof of disability at 600+ venues across the UK and abroad. If you're looking for ways to communicate your access needs, consider applying for your card today.