Comments on: Welcome

By: admin

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:39:07 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Kirsty. It’s good to see that you are doing something about it. As you say, if everyone learned to sign, these problems would not happen. Getting more nurses to sign would be a massive step forward.

By: Kirsty Rayner

Kirsty Rayner — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:37:30 +0000

Hi, my name is Kirsty.
I can hear but I am writing an essay based on a lovely patient of mine that is profoundly deaf and the difficult situations that occurred. I was so embarrassed, I have learnt very basic BSL while at church and through deaf events held so I loved the fact that I could communicate a bit but when it came to giving information and results I had no idea.

I have seen how mis-communication between doctor and patient can happen and how the information can get lost in translation or cause anxiety and sadness if not properly done with an interpreter.

My feeling is that there should be at least one nurse (at least) that can sign on each ward. I don’t see why we as hearing aren’t taught it in schools and even in nursing… you can’t help being deaf but people that can hear can do something about our laziness and ability to help community. It upsets me that there is a divide, that you are made to feel the way you do, I will be a part of that change by learning BSL and voicing my opinions. Keep complaining and one day hopefully soon we will see a change!

By: Abbas Ali Raza

Abbas Ali Raza — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:01:58 +0000

Hello,

My name is Abbas and I am from Remark! based in London. I am seeking for some people to give us bad experiences of using access with banks.

You are deaf and cannot hear on the phone, how can we get access to banks urgently?

If you have used an interpreter to phone the bank up for you, and they got declined to talk for you?

Were you being ignored by the banks?

Did the banks not improve much better access for you, deaf people, to use banks easily, without calling?

How can we get in touch with the banks if we are all deaf, cannot hear or speak on the phone?

Please give us your bad experiences, we are looking to share the stories around, into documentaries for Remark film production.

It would be very helpful if you guys are keen to give us the bad experiences, we all might improve much better facilities with banks.

If you are interested, please email me; abbas.aliraza@hotmail.co.uk or sam.calder@remark.uk.com.

Many thanks!

By: admin

admin — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 10:41:47 +0000

Thanks for your comment Stuart. A lot of the time, doctors just don’t understand how to communicate. Most are never taught even basic deaf awareness. I would like to think your doctor pays for a lipreader – but my guess is they don’t.

By: Stuart Kid

Stuart Kid — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:03:05 +0000

Hello

Like Geri I get a lot of people on this site i to have problems with my doctor if my lip speaker can not make it to the appointment with me i have to go on my own they will not write any thing down and also they do not look at me when they are talking to me. They to look at the computer or look at my notes so now try and book an appointment when my lipreader is free. I know I shouldn’t but I don’t feel comfortable.

By: admin

admin — Fri, 27 May 2011 13:46:12 +0000

Thanks for your comment. It is really good that other people can read about your experience.

Seeing your doctor should not be stressful. You have rights. The doctor should ask you how you would like the communication to work, e.g. professional lip-speaker, written notes passed, longer appointments, etc. They have a legal responsibility to make sure you get the same level of service as a hearing person. I know it can be difficult to stand-up for your rights. Especially from a doctor, who you are relying on and do not want to upset. SignHealth is always trying to educate doctors, and other health staff. But the best way of improving things is for deaf patients to be clear with their doctor about what they want. SignHealth’s advocacy service can help with this, if a doctor says resists or refuses.

I hope things improve with your doctor. If the advocacy service can help, then please do contact them. Check the website http://signhealth.org.uk/index.php?pageID=12 Good luck.

By: Paul Byrne

Paul Byrne — Fri, 27 May 2011 11:21:51 +0000

I am a 31 year old male, I was about 4 years old when they found out i was deaf because my speach didnt develope well, although I had good hearing as a child it was told to me It would get worse throughout my life, I am now classed as profundly deaf, I struggle very baddly with everyday life comunications, I cant sign but do lipread, bu even that is really hard and can make me very tired over long times. I have never been aware of any help I can recive when it comes to meetings, interview or even on nhs ie doctors ,dentest or hospital appointments. My partner has to come with me to all appointments i go to so she can try and relay or even answer questions for me, shes not had any experiances with deaf people before me, so it causes us a lot of stress as well. it makes me feel worthless when I cant understand what a doctor is saying to me, it makes me feel really angry when even after making doctors aware im deaf they still talk to the wall or the computer. I,ve got to the point where i avoid going out unless it totaly needed.
I feel all deaf people across the whole spectrum needs to be made aware of any help out there, which would improve there quility of life and also people in genral should be made more aware of deafness, I have been compaired to people with deslicx, been told they thought i was a person who suffers with down sindroms because of my speech. none of this is correct. I’m just rambbling now but i am a very angry person when it comes to my deafness and lack of awareness both from help i can recive and from companies, doctors even goverment officals.

By: admin

admin — Fri, 13 May 2011 09:39:35 +0000

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing this information. I think you are right. Lots of Deaf people miss out on health information and education. Please let everyone know about the Deaf health survey. It’s completely confidential. We are trying to get real evidence of Deaf people’s health. Better or worse than hearing? The survey is online (in BSL and English) or you can print a form and post it back – see http://www.deafhealth.org.uk . It’s really important that people take part so we can get the evidence. Without the evidence, it’s difficult to get services to change. Thanks again.

By: Alex Duguid

Alex Duguid — Thu, 12 May 2011 15:32:11 +0000

Our local Deaf club we have over 100 members and about 30 to 40 members regular use the club and when I look at these regular regarding their health, they do have some problem with their health in different way, about 6 of them got diabetic, 2 with colon, more than 6 got some sort of heart problem; high blood pressure or cholesterol, some arthritis and 3 got mental health. So it seem that we Deaf have missed out on information and education regarding looking after our health. We do have a great Interpreter services but it seem that is not enough. It mean we deaf people have a higher per cent of problem with our health and it needed to be solved

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:24:36 +0000

I have noticed the doctors surgerys becoming more aware of the actions they need to take to make sure everyone is catered for, just recently in my doctors they have put in a red light and green light system, to with a name at the side which enable you to visually see, as well as calling your name. It’s a great idea!