Accessibility statements

Accessibility statement for the Better Health website

This accessibility statement applies to www.nhs.uk/better-health/ and its embedded tools.

This website is run by NHS England on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

change colours, contrast levels and fonts
zoom in up to 300% 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

We have 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:

some users may experience issues with the video content, which is not yet fully accessible
when using assistive technologies some users may experience issues with navigating video menu items

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille, please email betterhealth@dhsc.gov.uk.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we are not meeting accessibility requirements, please email betterhealth@dhsc.gov.uk.

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 are not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Technical information about this website's accessibility

NHS England is committed to making its websites 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 in the "Non-accessible content" section.

Non-accessible content

The video menu navigation is labelled incorrectly. This does not comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guideline v2.1 (A) 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value.
Videos presented on the home workout videos page are not identified by accessible text. This does not comply with Web Content Accessibility Guideline v2.1 (A) 1.1.1 Non-Text Content.
There is no audio description for the video content. This does not comply with Web Content Accessibility Guideline v2.1 (AA) 1.2.5 Audio Description (pre-recorded).

What we are doing to improve accessibility

We have a roadmap in place to fix the issues listed and expect to have completed the issues by July 2024.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 8 July 2020. It was last reviewed on 15 April 2024.

The website was last tested on 7 July 2020. The "How Are You?" quiz was last tested on 4 September 2020, and the Personal Quit Plan was last tested on 2 September 2020.

These tests were carried out by Zoonou, the Digital Accessibility Centre (DAC) and Nomensa, with the exception of the Personal Quit Plan, which was tested internally.

Accessibility statement for the Weight Loss Plan mobile application

This accessibility statement explains how accessible the NHS Weight Loss Plan mobile application is, what to do if you have difficulty using it and how to report accessibility problems with the app.

The Department for Health and Social Care is committed to making its mobile applications accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

This accessibility statement applies to versions 2.50 (iOS, released 9 October 2023) and 2.4.7 (Android, released 9 October 2023) of the NHS Weight Loss Plan mobile application (both iOS and Android operating systems).

This mobile application is run by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and is free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play store. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this app. For example, that means you should be able to:

zoom in up to 200% without the text spilling off the screen
navigate most of the mobile application using just a keyboard
listen to most of the mobile application using a screen reader (VoiceOver for iOS and Talkback for Android)

We’ve also made the mobile application's text as simple as possible to understand.

Adapting the content to your specific needs

If you have a disability or other specific access needs, you can adapt the content of the app using your device to make it easier for you. AbilityNet has advice to help you make your device easier to use.

How accessible the app is

We know some parts of the app are not fully accessible:

the app cannot be turned into landscape mode (i.e. used horizontally)
some parts of the app cannot be controlled by a keyboard or switch at this time

We are not responsible for the accessibility of any external links we send users to.

Technical information about this application’s accessibility

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

Compliance status

In the absence of mobile app specific WCAG 2.1 guidelines, we have worked with external auditors at the Digital Accessibility Centre (DAC) and Zoonou to establish principles that apply these guidelines to specific native mobile application solutions.

We aim to meet and maintain Level A and AA WCAG 2.1 accessibility requirements, as well as meet some AAA guidelines where possible and appropriate - but acknowledge it can be difficult to maintain such compliance across every page of the app.

This mobile application is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

the focus order for screenreaders is not logical in some sections of the app when interacting with related pop-up options (e.g. on 'Calculate your BMI' and 'Let's get started' screens). This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.3. We were unable to find a fix after investigation and we have also found reports of other iOS developers encountering this issue which it appears they have also been unable to resolve. We will continue to monitor for a means to resolve this issue and update on the status of the issue by December 2023
some screen titles, headings, buttons, and form objects are not accessible or announced when using TalkBack on Android. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 and 1.3.1. We plan to fix these issues or update on their status by December 2023
some parts of the app cannot be controlled by a keyboard or switch. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.1.1. We plan to fix these issues or update on their status by December 2023
some older Android devices with screens with MDPI resolution cannot increase text size to 200%. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.4. We plan to fix these issues or update on their status by December 2023

What we are doing to improve accessibility

We are working on the issues identified above and a further accessibility audit is being scheduled in June 2024 to ensure the app meets AA requirements.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 30 June 2021. It was last reviewed on 9 October 2023.

This app was last tested in June 2023. The test was carried out by the Government Digital Service Accessibility Monitoring team. A full accessibility audit was last conducted by our external accessibility partner Zoonou in September 2022.

Feedback and contact information

We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this app. If you find any problems not listed on this page, or think we are not meeting accessibility requirements, please email us using the link below.

To assist us in resolving the issue you are experiencing, please inform us of the device type you are using (iOS or Android), what app you are using (in this case the NHS Weight Loss Plan), what screen you were on (e.g. Diary) and the issue you have faced. This will give us the information we need to be able to reproduce and investigate these issues in a timely manner.

You can use the template below:

Device type:
App name:
Screen title:
Issue seen:

Supporting information:

Email the better Health team

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 are not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service

Disproportionate burden statement for the Better Health mobile applications

Landscape orientation of Better Health mobile applications

Page content is restricted to being viewed in portrait orientation across both iOS and Android devices, and does not comply with WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.4 (Orientation). This is a known issue affecting NHS Couch to 5K, NHS Active 10, NHS Weight Loss Plan, NHS Food Scanner, NHS Quit Smoking and NHS Drink Free Days mobile applications.

Benefits of creating an accessible version

Enhanced Content Layout: Landscape orientation can be beneficial for displaying certain types of content, such as tables, charts, and diagrams. This can be particularly useful for apps that provide data visualization or educational content, making it easier for users to interpret complex information.

Wider Keyboard: For users who may have difficulty with small on-screen keyboards, landscape mode can provide a wider keyboard layout, making it easier to type accurately and quickly. This can benefit users with motor impairments or those who have larger fingers.

Improved Gesture Controls: Landscape orientation may offer more space for touch gestures and controls. This can be advantageous for users with limited dexterity or precision, as it reduces the chances of accidental taps and swipes.

Compatibility with Accessories: Some users may use accessories like physical keyboards, external Braille displays or fixed orientation device mounts with their mobile devices. Landscape orientation can offer better compatibility with such equipment, allowing for more comfortable and efficient interaction.

Burden

Development Resources: Enabling landscape orientation requires significant development effort, including redesigning interfaces, adjusting layouts, and optimizing content. This allocation of resources could be better utilized to enhance other critical aspects of the apps, such as accessibility features, content quality, and usability in portrait orientation.
Maintenance and Testing: Maintaining and testing multiple app orientations significantly increases the complexity of ongoing development and quality assurance efforts. This would lead to increased maintenance costs and a potentially higher likelihood of introducing bugs and issues with each update.

Assessment

It is our determination that the benefits of enabling landscape orientation across the Better Health mobile apps do not appear to outweigh the costs and potential challenges, rendering this a disproportionate burden.

As a result, we recommend focusing our resources on improving other aspects of the app, such as enhancing content quality, providing better accessibility features, and optimizing user experience in portrait orientation.

This approach aligns with our commitment to providing accessible and user-friendly health and wellness information to all users while effectively managing development efforts and resources.