Miss-Delectable
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http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1084&ArticleID=1350192
FAMILY doctors in Calderdale are set to benefit from a computer program designed to improve communication between health professionals and patients who are either deaf or have limited English.
SignHealth, developed by national charity Sign, is the first program of its kind available to GP surgeries.
It recognises health professionals have a number of difficulties communicating with patients who have a hearing impairment, or have difficulty understanding English.
It allows a GP, nurse or receptionist to choose what they want to ask a patient from a list of questions on the computer screen. The computer then shows a video clip of someone signing the question and the deaf patient can answer by selecting from a list of on-screen answers.
It can also help translate questions for those patients who neither read or speak English.
Steve Powell, chief executive of Sign, said: "Currently more than 60 per cent of GP appointments do not provide communication support to people with hearing difficulties or to those who have limited English.
"SignHealth has been developed to ensure healthcare professionals can communicate effectively with patients to make sure an accurate diagnosis is made. With the support of the money given to primary care trusts specifically for deaf people, I believe SignHealth will provide a service that doctors and deaf patients in Calderdale will benefit from for a lifetime."
Calderdale Primary Care Trust (PCT) is one of 303 primary care trusts in England that will be offered the program paid for by the Department of Health, to trial for free for a limited period.
The program also prints out information sheets for the patient about their medical condition, or simple advice on how to take their medication.
SignHealth also enables GPs and receptionists to send appointment reminders to deaf people via SMS.
FAMILY doctors in Calderdale are set to benefit from a computer program designed to improve communication between health professionals and patients who are either deaf or have limited English.
SignHealth, developed by national charity Sign, is the first program of its kind available to GP surgeries.
It recognises health professionals have a number of difficulties communicating with patients who have a hearing impairment, or have difficulty understanding English.
It allows a GP, nurse or receptionist to choose what they want to ask a patient from a list of questions on the computer screen. The computer then shows a video clip of someone signing the question and the deaf patient can answer by selecting from a list of on-screen answers.
It can also help translate questions for those patients who neither read or speak English.
Steve Powell, chief executive of Sign, said: "Currently more than 60 per cent of GP appointments do not provide communication support to people with hearing difficulties or to those who have limited English.
"SignHealth has been developed to ensure healthcare professionals can communicate effectively with patients to make sure an accurate diagnosis is made. With the support of the money given to primary care trusts specifically for deaf people, I believe SignHealth will provide a service that doctors and deaf patients in Calderdale will benefit from for a lifetime."
Calderdale Primary Care Trust (PCT) is one of 303 primary care trusts in England that will be offered the program paid for by the Department of Health, to trial for free for a limited period.
The program also prints out information sheets for the patient about their medical condition, or simple advice on how to take their medication.
SignHealth also enables GPs and receptionists to send appointment reminders to deaf people via SMS.