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Deaf Centre plea for extra help - Gazette Live
PATIENTS are calling for better hearing services on Teesside.
Middlesbrough Deaf Centre members claim translation services at James Cook University Hospital are poor, employees in the audiology department do not have enough deaf awareness and that complaints are not responded to.
Their views, coupled with the fact that 39% of patients nationally are waiting more than a year to have hearing aids fitted, have concerned health chiefs in Middlesbrough.
Middlesbrough Council’s Health Scrutiny Panel met with representatives from South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust and the four Teesside Primary Care Trusts to investigate the problem.
Last year Teesside patients were waiting an average of 54 weeks for hearing aids from James Cook but this has now been reduced to 36 weeks.
Elaine Wyllie, commissioner for the Primary Care Trusts across Teesside, said patients should be waiting no longer than 18 weeks by 2009.
She admitted waiting times were unacceptable and they had been spurred into action by national targets.
She said they were already providing more patient choice by commissioning services with Specsavers But she added: “We do need to think about how we follow up better than we do now.”
Committee chair, Councillor Eddie Dryden, said it was bizarre patients were having problems communicating with staff in the audiology department.
John McGregor of Middlesbrough, who is deaf in both ears, said: “If I go to the hospital I have to take my wife with me in order that I might eventually hear what’s been said.”
Des Robertshaw, representing the audiology department at James Cook, said there are no visual signs to alert patients to their appointments but patients are collected on a one-to-one basis.
He said interpreters are available on request, adding: “All clinical staff receive deaf awareness and clinical awareness training and both our receptionists have applied to start sign language training.”
Linda Henarty of South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust said: “If complaints are made in the right way there is no way people should not be responded to.”
Mr McGregor said many public meetings do not have loop systems and a lot of deaf people are not aware of the gadgets available to them such as flashing alarm clocks.
He added Middlesbrough Deaf Centre is great because it allows people with similar problems to get together.
For details of Middlesbrough Deaf Centre contact 01642 819782 (voice/fax/minicom), text 07876 137448 or email gill_marshall@middlesbrough.gov.uk
PATIENTS are calling for better hearing services on Teesside.
Middlesbrough Deaf Centre members claim translation services at James Cook University Hospital are poor, employees in the audiology department do not have enough deaf awareness and that complaints are not responded to.
Their views, coupled with the fact that 39% of patients nationally are waiting more than a year to have hearing aids fitted, have concerned health chiefs in Middlesbrough.
Middlesbrough Council’s Health Scrutiny Panel met with representatives from South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust and the four Teesside Primary Care Trusts to investigate the problem.
Last year Teesside patients were waiting an average of 54 weeks for hearing aids from James Cook but this has now been reduced to 36 weeks.
Elaine Wyllie, commissioner for the Primary Care Trusts across Teesside, said patients should be waiting no longer than 18 weeks by 2009.
She admitted waiting times were unacceptable and they had been spurred into action by national targets.
She said they were already providing more patient choice by commissioning services with Specsavers But she added: “We do need to think about how we follow up better than we do now.”
Committee chair, Councillor Eddie Dryden, said it was bizarre patients were having problems communicating with staff in the audiology department.
John McGregor of Middlesbrough, who is deaf in both ears, said: “If I go to the hospital I have to take my wife with me in order that I might eventually hear what’s been said.”
Des Robertshaw, representing the audiology department at James Cook, said there are no visual signs to alert patients to their appointments but patients are collected on a one-to-one basis.
He said interpreters are available on request, adding: “All clinical staff receive deaf awareness and clinical awareness training and both our receptionists have applied to start sign language training.”
Linda Henarty of South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust said: “If complaints are made in the right way there is no way people should not be responded to.”
Mr McGregor said many public meetings do not have loop systems and a lot of deaf people are not aware of the gadgets available to them such as flashing alarm clocks.
He added Middlesbrough Deaf Centre is great because it allows people with similar problems to get together.
For details of Middlesbrough Deaf Centre contact 01642 819782 (voice/fax/minicom), text 07876 137448 or email gill_marshall@middlesbrough.gov.uk