Sick-Of-It-Report

SCAN MENO INFORMATIONIn our research Deaf people reported feelingexcluded, marginalised and disenfranchised by thehealthcare system. They face constant barriers asthey try to take control of their own health.Modern healthcare relies on people being giveninformation and then making healthy choices, butDeaf people are just not being given the informationthey need.Health information from the NHS and othersshould be routinely translated into sign language, togive Deaf people the same access to information aseveryone else.FOR BSLMost hearing people would not be happy withhaving to ask a friend to explain what an informationleaflet says.Deaf people have poorer access to health services,information and effective communication inconsultations.The in-depth interviews showed that access to healthinformation was poor, with clinicians often relying onwritten information.There also needs to be a national programmeto make the important information which is alreadyavailable to hearing people accessible to Deafpeople too. It’s particularly important that Deafpeople can find information when they want it,because unlike hearing people they don’t pick upinformation in passing from the radio and tv, oroverheard conversations.They often need to rely on someone else totranslate it for them, such as a friend or family.This would be bad enough for any information,but for something as personal and important ashealth it is unacceptable.“The NHS Choices website containsaround 900 videos. Ten of them are insign language. That’s just over 1%.”