Accessibility

This accessibility statement applies to the BMJ Group website at bmjgroup.com.

How accessible is this website?

We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standard, so that as many people as possible can use our website.

Users should be able to:

• distinguish text from its background because of sufficient colour contrast
• navigate most of the website using only a keyboard
• navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
• use most of the website with a screen reader
• skip directly to the main content using keyboard navigation
• see which element is selected when navigating with a keyboard, through visible focus indicators.

Recent accessibility improvements

We are committed to improving the accessibility of the BMJ Group website. Recent improvements include:

• adding skip links to support keyboard navigation
• improving keyboard accessibility across key areas of the website
• adding and enhancing visible focus indicators
• improving page structure through semantic landmarks, including header, navigation, main content and footer regions
• reviewing heading structures to support screen reader navigation
• making link text more meaningful and descriptive where possible
• improving navigation menus and interactive components
• adding accessible names and labels to buttons, links and other interactive elements where required
• reviewing and improving alternative text for images
• improving the accessibility of forms and user interaction elements
• resolving issues relating to duplicate or missing page landmarks
• improving accessibility support for mobile and responsive layouts
• embedding accessibility checks into ongoing website development, testing and content publishing.

Areas we are still improving

We know that some parts of the website may not yet fully conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA. We are working to address the following areas:

• some third-party websites, tools and embedded content may not meet the same accessibility standards as the main BMJ Group website
• some downloadable documents, including PDFs and flippingbooks, may not be fully accessible to all users
• we continue to review colour contrast, focus indicators and keyboard navigation across the website.

We have also introduced an accessibility training plan to help our staff design and develop content, pages and digital experiences that meet the needs of all users.

Our accessibility audit and roadmap

BMJ Group commissioned an independent accessibility audit by Envious Marketing Ltd, completed in June 2025. The audit assessed the website against WCAG 2.1 Level AA and identified areas for improvement.

Our remediation work is part of BMJ Group’s wider accessibility roadmap. This includes regular audits, issue remediation, accessibility best practice in new development, and continuous improvement overseen by an internal Accessibility Working Group.

Specific accessibility challenges

Third-party integrations

The BMJ Group website includes content and functionality from third-party providers, including embedded videos, external resources, flipping books, OpenStreetMap code and OneTrust.

We do not have direct control over the accessibility standards of these services. However, we are working with providers to improve accessibility where possible, including advocating for WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance and reviewing alternative suppliers where needed.

Our company-wide commitment

At BMJ Group, we are committed to digital accessibility. We want our resources to be available to as many people as possible, supporting our vision of helping to create a healthier world.

Feedback and support

Your feedback helps us improve accessibility across the BMJ Group website. If you experience any barriers accessing content, or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us:

• Email: accessibility@bmj.com
• Telephone: +44 (0)20 7387 4410
• Post: BMJ Publishing Group Limited, 5th Floor, 90 Whitfield Street, London, W1T 4EZ, UK

This statement was last updated in December 2026.