🦻🏻 A really helpful meeting today with Janet at Signing Solutions who are based at Warrington Deaf Centre, to discuss some of the issues facing constituents who are deaf or hard of hearing.
One of the concerns raised was access to BSL sign language interpreters when using NHS services, in particular at the hospital - 96% of deaf people questioned in Warrington said they needed British Sign Language assistance so that they could understand what’s being said to them but shockingly 86% were forced to cancel appointments because no translators were available.
Even holding a phone consultation is sufficient if you can’t hear what’s being said to you! The community say they want anyone providing a service to be Deaf aware and that access to an interpreter should be an essential requirement for appointments.
I’ve written to the hospital to ask what steps are being taken to make sure Doctors know someone is deaf, by a flag on medical records, before holding consultations to avoid cancelled appointments.