Deaf in Wales face access problems

[Miss-Delectable]

News Wales > Health > Deaf in Wales face access problems

Audiology researchers at Swansea University have found that deaf and hard of hearing patients in Wales face significant barriers in fully accessing vital health care services.

Dr Fei Zhao, Senior Lecturer in the School of Health Science , carried out the one-year research study for The Royal National Institute for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People throughout eight of the 13 National Health Service Trusts across Wales .

A total of 300 patients, aged between 21 and 90, participated in the study, which explored how deaf and hard of hearing patients across Wales perceived the quality of, and access to, the health care services that they required.

Most patients stated that overall they were satisfied with the quality of health care services in general.

But most patients stated that they continued to experience problems, particularly in relation to making an appointment by telephone, difficulty in hearing their name called in the waiting room, and problems in hearing nurses or doctors.

Dr Zhao said: “Readily accessible health care services in Wales are crucial in maintaining the health and well-being of the population.”

“The findings from the research will provide essential information to local health care providers, to help them review existing practices and procedures, with the aim of improving the quality of the services that they provide.”

“We have identified specific, practical and effective interventions, such as visual name displays, alternative methods for making an appointment and training options to address the current shortcomings.”

“We hope that these actions will lead to improved health outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing people across Wales .”

For further information about Swansea University ’s School of Health Science , please visit Welcome to the University of Wales, School of Health Science Website.

 

[Passivist]

Took 'em long enough I've been campaigning about this 11 YEARS. There's virtually no signed terp access to most NHS services at all. There is no emergency cover mostly, deaf here rely on Friends/relatives. Advice is this is causing the problem ! by deceasing demand for official support. Deaf can't be weaned away from relatives helping them out, so no demand is there except from those who haven't the support of kin. Deaf have to stop using what they have relied on for so long and thus create real demand, but who wants to take that risk ? Daytime cover at hospitals is AM until 3.30pm Mon-Friday there is NO after hours cover, and NO weekend support available. So if you live in Wales, please, ONLY be sick during working hours !

The same applies to police/emergency services there is no cover for a sign user. They're getting better at installing contacts via minicoms/SMS etc, but the situation reverts again after you call, the people who turn up to treat or help you can't communicate.... It's a deaf thing in that we demand access but won't CREATE that demand by taking the risk until the service is set up, and a risk it is... The RNID has known of the situation many years,m but is only interested in a s much as they stand to gain financially if deaf take risks, there has to be some reality spoken to deaf people to explain what they need to do.

I suggested regional 'pools' that is 24hr based, all emergency and NHS services can access, by them sharing the cost then we overcome that barrier too, but the 999 services here are all fighting their own corner and don't co-operate. We're stuck in the middle. I see nothing much changing, the deaf seem to have accepted neutral 24hr cover isn't what they want, despite hospitals in particular NOT liking deaf people turning up with children interpretng, they say it's dangerous and bad for deaf people, there are issues of using relatives/friends having to take serious medical decisions on deaf behalf, hence why the health services do NOT want to respect deaf choice in their area, they say it's not safe. It's not effective either.

Issues of insurance claims means surgeons can be left open if things go wrong due to bad interpreting by non-trained people deaf turn up with,they want ONLY Neutral and trained interpreters, so do I. Deaf want choice to use relatives etc, this means NO effective 24hr cover... Deaf need to put their health and saftey before their access,it's silly to suggest it some sell-out of rights. What we all want to know, is WHERE, has 7 million pounds sterling gone for signed access in Wales ? down the plug hole again as deaf and the RNID battle over the cash ? Yet deaf still have not enough terps...