Patient Experiences: d/Deaf Patients
Download (PDF 536.56 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Warrington was approached by Signing Solutions to discuss the issues that the Deaf community in Warrington are experiencing with Hospital access. They undertook a focus group in November 2022 that was attended by over 40 members of the Deaf community.
Nearly all needed BSL interpretation to help them understand what they were being told. A similar number had attended hospital appointments and had been left without an interpreter. Almost all the deaf patients Healthwatch spoke to have had a medical appointment cancelled due to a lack of interpreter.
Almost all needed support with letters as BSL is different to written English.
Most patients wanted to be contacted via a BSL advocacy service.
The report contains six recommendations about deaf awareness for healthcare staff, flagging medical records, on call interpreters, a BSL advocacy booking service, Information in QR codes or BSL videos on GP & hospital screens and interpreter services.