Focus on the deaf community in Medway

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Summary of report content

Healthwatch Medway wanted to understand the experiences of the deaf community in Medway.  They spoke to 40 people.

Deaf people felt frustrated about accessing services as it could take a long time to get an appointment with an interpreter.  Appointments were cancelled at the last minute or interpreters couldn’t stay for the whole length of the session. At A&E, deaf people had to wait a very long time to be seen with an interpreter.

The report makes seven recommendations about improving access to interpreters and training primary care staff and dentists in basic BSL.

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General details

Local Healthwatch
Healthwatch Medway
Publication date
Date evidence capture began
Date evidence capture finished
Key themes
Access to services
Communication with patients; treatment explanation; verbal advice
Accessibility and reasonable adjustments
Waiting times- punctuality and queuing on arrival

Methodology and approach

Was the work undertaken in partnership with another organisation?
No
Primary research method used
Deliberative event
Engagement event
If an Enter and View methodology was applied, was the visit announced or unannounced?
N/A

Details of health and care services included in the report

Details of health and care services included in the report
Dentist
General Practice (GP)
Inpatient care/General inpatients
General outpatients and hospital-based consultants
Emergency department (inc A&E)

Details of people who shared their views

Number of people who shared their views
40
Age group
All
Gender
All
Sexual orientation
Not known
Types of disabilities
Sensory impairment
Does this report feature carers?
No
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