This work has led to the introduction of new services. You can find out more about that here.
In February 2018, NHS Liverpool CCG (LCCG) were made aware of a number of issues faced by D/deaf people in the city in getting the healthcare they needed.
NHS Liverpool CCG invited members of the D/deaf community, their advocates, and a range of local healthcare organisations to a meeting held on 2nd May 2018 to share their experiences.
The meeting was attended by 66 members of the public who are either D/deaf, and/or who directly support this community either personally or professionally, as well as members of staff from each of the following NHS employers:
Following the meeting a number of recommendations have been made for improving access to health care for D/deaf people and people with hearing loss which can be found in this report:
Please click here for a playlist of BSL translation videos for the above report (link to YouTube).
We will now be working closely with our partner organisations to ensure these recommendations are met.
If you would like to share an experience or get involved please contact
EMAIL: involvement@liverpoolccg.nhs.uk TEL: 0151 295 8604 TXT: 07900 826 844
We will also be holding another meeting at the end of 2018 to review our progress so please let us know if you would like to be kept informed about that.
As part of undertaking these actions, Liverpool CCG has also partnered with local NHS Trusts to launch the 5 Rights campaign, which aims to increase NHS staff and public awareness of the rights of all patients to receive accessible health services - including BSL, braille and other language interpretation services.
The campaign was launched during National Deaf Awareness Week 2019 (6 - 12 May 2019), supported by hospitals, GP practices and other NHS health services across Liverpool.
The campaign highlights how the NHS is required to follow 5 important steps when providing care to anyone who is D/deaf, blind, visually impaired, has speech or language difficulties, or any other communication need.
These are:
It also highlighted that if this doesn’t happen, patients have the right to complain at any time by contacting NHS Liverpool CCG’s Complaints Team on: (0151) 247 6454 or email: complaints@liverpoolccg.nhs.uk
You can access the campaign resources here:
You can download a Chinese translation of the poster: here
You can also watch a short BSL video about the campaign here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxJNcC2qSs8