Deaf People Demand Better Communication From GPs, England

Main Category: Hearing / Deafness
Also Included In: Ear, Nose and Throat
Article Date: 15 Apr 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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GPs are being urged to adopt online sign language translation software after concerns were raised at Deaf Day 2009, the UK's largest event for the deaf community at City Lit in London. At the event, deaf people took the opportunity to put their names to a demand for surgeries to use SignTranslate. This internet-based translation program converts English to British Sign Language (BSL) as well as 12 foreign spoken languages.

The program was developed by the healthcare charity for deaf people, SignHealth, and is currently free for all GP surgeries. It aids communication with people who have difficulty in understanding English, whether they are Deaf and use BSL, or are non-English speaking ethnic minorities. It is an easy way for GPs to improve their communication with minority groups.

Since the demands were made at Deaf Day 2009, SignHealth has started to write to individual GP practices on behalf of their deaf patients explaining how the service works and how they can obtain the free web-based program. SignTranslate cards, similar to donor cards, are also being used by Deaf people to express their wish to communicate in BSL without having to wait weeks for an interpreter.

Chair of ESyDoc LLP consortium for East Surrey, Dr Joe McGilligan is already using SignTranslate. He commented:

"SignTranslate is a great thing for every GP to have. It's so much better to be able to see a patient straightaway rather than having to wait until you can get an interpreter. The software's very easy to use and also helps us work with other patients by translating into other languages as well as BSL. We've now had SignTranslate installed in every Practice in East Surrey and it's proving very useful."

Steve Powell, Chief Executive of SignHealth had this to say:

"We were not surprised to discover that so many people at Deaf Day were dissatisfied with the communication they have with their GP. Shortages of interpreters mean long waiting times for BSL users or the prospect of visiting a GP without understanding everything that's said. Communication problems cause misunderstandings, wrong diagnoses and can leave patients unsure of how to use medication. We urge GPs to visit www.signtranslate.com and contact us to find out how they can implement this free service."

About SignHealth and SignTranslate

SignHealth is the healthcare charity for d/Deaf people and is committed to bringing better healthcare and equality of service provision to d/Deaf people in the UK.

SignHealth has developed SignTranslate, a web-based programme which can provide almost immediate online interpreting for short notice and same day GP appointments as well as visits to hospitals A&E. The programme is currently free of charge for GPs in England.

Meaning of Deaf and deaf

Written with a lower case d 'deaf' refers to a person who is hard of hearing or cannot hear at all.

Many deaf people whose first language is sign language consider their deafness to be central to their identity, rather than a disability. Termed as Deaf with a capital D, these people are more suitably defined as a minority ethnic group than a type of disabled person. This group is bound together by language, culture and ways of experiencing the world.

Source
SignHealth