Eating oranges after 9pm — a cure for shingles?
ABOUT 15 years ago, a Deaf* man came to me and said “My doctor told me if I eat oranges after 9pm it will cure my shingles.” He had clearly misunderstood his doctor. The GP assumed his patient could grasp what he was saying, making no allowance for the fact he communicated in British Sign Language. The surgery hadn’t booked a sign language interpreter. This was a relatively harmless misunderstanding, but it could have been so much worse. From that day on, no JDA client has ever been to the doctor without an appropriate interpreter or JDA support worker beside them. We make sure all deaf patients — however they communicate — can understand what is being said to them and ask all the questions they need to stay healthy. JDA is here to advocate for them and put all the appropriate support in place, so no-one ever has to cope alone.
Unfortunately, JDA can’t be there for every deaf person in the UK needing a doctor. And, 15 years later, despite NHS guidelines, GP surgeries are still not booking interpreters for Deaf signers, nor making allowances for the needs of people with acquired hearing loss.
For all people with hearing loss, the pandemic has exacerbated inequalities in accessing GP surgeries. Restrictions in face-to-face appointments and the wearing of face masks mean patients with hearing loss who lip-read can’t communicate and connect with their GP effectively, leaving them isolated and impacting on their mental health and overall wellbeing.
So it is vital that GPs and others working in surgeries receive deaf awareness training. Then, of course, the receptionist would know not to offer a deaf person a telephone consultation — as they are unlikely to be able to communicate effectively on the phone.
We have to keep working hard to change attitudes and behaviour. One client told us: “My GP treated me with hostility when I asked him to lower his mask so I could see his lips. I couldn’t understand what he was saying as his mouth was covered. When he lowered his mask, he shouted at me angrily. I left there traumatised and not sure of my diagnosis.” JDA intervened and this GP now understands how to meet the needs of deaf patients.
Patients with hearing loss need face-to-face appointments, where GPs wear clear-fronted masks, speak clearly and look at the patients when they are talking to them, taking the time to ensure the patient has understood everything they say.
Technology can help. For example, apps provide live captioning of everything that is being said. And if patients are able to access their appointments via video chat, there are also subtitle services so they can follow the conversation in real time.
SOME GOOD NEWS
The Royal College of General Practitioners is now actively promoting its new “deafness and hearing loss toolkit” and a hearing friendly practice charter for surgeries. And JDA is now the official provider of deaf awareness training for GP surgeries in the London Borough of Barnet.
So perhaps change is coming. JDA will keep fighting for a level playing field so that, one day, deaf people will be offered accessible booking systems, be able to have a proper conversation with their doctor and leave the surgery understanding and being able to follow medical instructions — just as hearing people can.
JDA’s vision is of a world where there are no barriers to communication and understanding between deaf and hearing people; a world with respect, inclusion and equality.
If you need help with accessing information or services, please contact us — we’re here to ensure all deaf people get the very best out of life in every way.
Patients with hearing loss need face-to-face appointments’
Sue Cipin is CEO of the Jewish Deaf Association, registered charity 1105845. You can donate by phone on 020 8446 0502 or securely online at jdeaf.org.uk
*Deaf with a capital D is used to denote people most likely to be immersed in Deaf culture and communicate using British Sign Language