Jennifer Bird • Oct 4, 2024 • 3 min read

You may have seen the recent BBC See Hear programme on the medical crisis on Deaf users' accessibility to healthcare.

Despite the launch of the NHS Accessible Information Standard in 2016 and its later inclusion at section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, Deaf users are still not getting the access that they need to their own healthcare. We know that this results in £30 million of wasted NHS funds from misdiagnosis and poor treatment SignHealth’s Sick of It report

Why? In general, the system is failing Deaf users on many accounts. As a co-op, we supply. It is what we do through commitment to the community, relationships and being people-powered. Often that is all that is needed from a contract. Supply. But there is more that can be done.

Since 2021, Signalise has provided sign language interpreters and other communication professionals to the NHS across Merseyside and Cheshire for a number of NHS Trusts. We also provide to councils, universities and anyone who needs to book an interpreter or other communication professional.

What we do is so much more than just supply. Our added social value is clear as shown in our Social Impact report. We are the professionals and the Deaf users and we are all working on the change that the system needs.

One way we do that is by developing technology but that is not the only answer. We know as a co-owned business that it is the tech but also the end results actually come down to the people. By collaborating, by co-designing and through our valued community relationships.

We actively work on reducing health inequalities by:

• involving Deaf users in the process of booking an interpreter
• holding events for Deaf users to talk about choice and rights to access the NHS
• providing resources for Deaf users such as complaint letters to enable and empower them to complain to organisations failing to give them access

We were proud to be mentioned in the See Hear as an organisation not only supplying but working with best practice. What this does is ensure the all important supply but that Deaf users are brought into the process of booking by inclusion, allowing choice and working together as users and professionals.

If you are interested in what we do please consider investing in Signalise via community shares, fill out our expression of interest form and sign up for our newsletter.