What is it like for Deaf people accessing health care in Warwickshire?
Read about the experiences of Gillian, Paul, Shane and Terry.
If I need an appointment, I text (my Personal Assistant), then she video calls me, she telephones the surgery while we are on the laptop.
English and British Sign Language (BSL) are two different languages.
‘Most Deaf people who use sign language in the UK use British Sign Language (BSL). It is a rich combination of hand gestures, facial expressions and body language and, like English, has its own grammar, syntax and lexicons. For many Deaf people, to learn English is to learn a second language.’
Signhealth
(Charity for improving Deaf people’s health and well-being)
I had no interpreter during a three day stay in hospital, it was written down, but I need to use British Sign Language, that is my preferred method of communication.
Watch our video, as Gillian, Paul, Shane and Terry explain in their own words what experiences they have had, when seeking health care.
I waited and waited, but the interpreter never arrived, It's a problem.
Watch a video, including BSL interpretation, of who Healthwatch Warwickshire is and what we do.
It seems very unfair, I worry about our health deteriorating. We should have equal rights under the Equalities Act.
