A site built to be used by everyone
Health Choice exists to help people stay independent at home. That promise begins with our own website being readable, navigable, and usable — whatever your age, eyesight, dexterity, or assistive technology.
Our commitment
We design and maintain healthchoice.org.uk to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at Level AA — the recognised UK standard for accessible web content. Many of our readers are older adults, carers, and people living with long-term conditions or sensory and mobility differences. Accessibility is not an afterthought for us; it is part of the same independent-living mission that shapes every guide we publish.
This statement explains what we have done, where we know we fall short, and exactly how to tell us when something gets in your way. We treat every report as a request we owe you an answer on.
Typography and contrast for older eyes
Reading should never be a strain. Our body text is set at a generous base size with comfortable line spacing, and we avoid thin, low-contrast lettering. Colour combinations are chosen to meet or exceed the WCAG 2.2 AA contrast ratios — 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text — so words stay legible in bright rooms, on older screens, and for readers with reduced contrast sensitivity.
We never rely on colour alone to carry meaning. Links, warnings, and emphasis are also signalled with text, underlines, or icons, so the message lands whether or not you can distinguish particular hues.
Text scaling, zoom, and keyboard navigation
You can enlarge the text in your browser up to 200% without content breaking, overlapping, or disappearing — useful if you prefer larger type or use screen magnification. The layout reflows to fit phones, tablets, and desktops, so you are never forced to scroll sideways to read a sentence.
The entire site can be operated from the keyboard alone, without a mouse. Tab order follows the visual flow of the page, focus is always clearly visible, and a 'skip to content' link lets keyboard and screen-reader users jump straight past the menu. Pages are structured with proper headings and landmarks so assistive technology can announce them in a logical order.
What we have built in
The accessibility features below are part of every page, not optional extras.
Descriptive text alternatives
Meaningful images carry alt text so screen-reader users get the same information sighted readers do; decorative images are marked so they are skipped.
Clear structure and headings
Each page uses one main heading and a logical heading hierarchy, so you can scan or navigate by section with assistive technology.
Plain-English writing
We keep language jargon-free and explain medical and funding terms in everyday words — accessibility is about understanding, not just access.
Resilient, predictable layouts
Content reflows on small screens and at high zoom, navigation stays consistent across pages, and nothing relies on hover or precise mouse control.
Common questions
Which standard does Health Choice aim to meet?
We aim to conform to WCAG 2.2 Level AA across the whole site. This covers contrast, text resizing, keyboard operation, clear focus, and compatibility with screen readers and other assistive technology.
Can I make the text bigger?
Yes. Use your browser or device zoom (often Ctrl and + on a keyboard, or pinch-to-zoom on a touchscreen). Our pages are tested to stay usable up to 200% zoom, and the layout adjusts so you don't have to scroll sideways.
Can I use the site without a mouse?
Yes. Every link, menu, and form can be reached and operated using the Tab and Enter keys, with a visible focus indicator and a 'skip to content' shortcut at the top of each page.
Are there parts of the site that aren't fully accessible yet?
We test regularly, but we know no site is ever perfect. Some older embedded content or third-party features may not fully meet AA. Where we find such gaps we prioritise fixing them, and we welcome reports that point us to problems we've missed.
What if I still can't access information I need?
Tell us what you were trying to read or do and we will help. We can provide the same guidance in an alternative format wherever reasonably possible — the information matters more than the format it arrives in.
How to report an accessibility problem
If you find anything on healthchoice.org.uk that is hard to read, navigate, or use with your assistive technology, please let us know. Tell us the page address, what you were trying to do, the device or software you were using, and what went wrong. The more detail you can give, the faster we can put it right.
We treat accessibility reports as a priority and will acknowledge your message, investigate, and tell you what we intend to do and by when. Your feedback genuinely makes the site better for the next reader — and that is the whole point of what we do here.
Found something that gets in your way?
Independence depends on access. If any part of this site is a barrier for you, contact us and we'll fix it or get you the information another way.