Improving access to health care services for deaf patients in Cumbria
Download (PDF 2.14 MB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Cumbria was approached by the Deaf Health Champion Project to support them in highlighting health and social care access issues that affected the Deaf community. The team surveyed 33 Deaf patients and 12 GP practices.
From the patient survey, the report identified that the key issues facing Deaf patients in accessing health and social care services were poor communication and lack of information. Communication problems, in particular, deterred patients from making appointments with their GP and with their hospital. The GP practice survey identified a number of areas GP services could improve, particularly in regard to interpreter services and communications.
The report made a number of recommendations. Many of these related to addressing communication issues, for example, offering a text messaging service for Deaf patients to book appointments. The report acknowledged that there are many opportunities for work to be done to improve the experience of Deaf patients. The report did not include responses from service providers.