IT’S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT NOT ALL DEAF PEOPLE COMMUNICATE IN THE SAME WAY


environment and context of the conversation. The accent, speaking speed, and words or language used can also affect a person’s ability to lip-read and understand what’s being said. It is important to remember that not all deaf people communicate in the same way, and their preferred method of communication may vary over time.


So, while it might not be possible to check with every deaf person an organisation interacts with on their preferred communication medium, offering a range of communication support options will make an organisation more accessible to a broader range of deaf/blind people.


The HSC Trusts use of the new sign language interpreting service will reduce readmission rates and complications by providing an in-language experience from intake to discharge and all the way through aftercare.


This will lead to better understanding and ultimately results, in terms of health outcomes. It will also lower the risk of misunderstanding, misdiagnoses, inadequately informed consent,


and the inability to follow treatment plans, which can result in inefficient or ineffective treatment leading to increased expenses and repeat visits.


The new service will be delivered through one central booking service, is free to access and is available 24/7. Prior to this new service, interpreting was accessed and provided differently in each Health and Social Care Trust area. This resulted in regional differences in availability, interpreter booking, service quality and travel distance.


The new service will deliver a more holistic and consistent approach for service users across all HSC Trust areas. It will also assist Health and Social Care staff in securing interpreting services more rapidly.


Welcoming the launch of this new initiative, Brendan Whittle, Director of Hospital and Community Care, Department of Health, said “The new regional service aims to ensure that anyone accessing health and social care services who need communication support due to hearing


loss receive a high standard, safe and timely service that is sustainable and consistent across Northern Ireland.”


“The service aims to deliver high quality, accessible, regionally consistent, and sustainable communication support for people who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing across all health and social care services, and to establish Northern Ireland as a recognised centre of good practice.”


Explaining further, Mr Whittle said: “The new model will see a new holistic communication support service that maximises all deaf and deaf- blind peoples’ independent access to services. It will also help HSC staff secure interpreting services much more quickly.”


Sign Language Interactions has provided the Remote Sign Language Interpreting service for the HSC Trust since April 2020 and has taken over delivering the joint online and face-to-face provision from 1 April 2023. Working directly with local interpreters and organisations it will provide an all-round approach in providing access to the BSL and ISL communities and deaf/blind and hard-of-hearing service users.


Sign Language Interactions has built up a strong and professional relationship not only with service users, but also positive and responsive working relationship with HSC staff at Trust and local levels. This new joint service delivery approach has service users at its heart will provide equitable access to all Health and Social Care services.


To find out more visit: www.signlanguageinteractions.com/hscni/


To book a Face to Face (In-Person) BSL/ISL interpreter, Lipspeaker or Electronic Notetaker: Telephone: 0333 344 7712 Web: https://signlanguageinteractions.com/ hscni-booking-form/


Email: bookingsni@signlanguageinteractions.com


To book a Pre-Planned Video Remote Interpreter (VRI): Web: www.signvideo.co.uk/hscni/ Email: bookingsni@signlanguageinteractions.com Telephone: 0333 344 7712


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