Deaf people in Sandwell should soon be able to have better access to their doctors, thanks to a web-based computer programme developed by a national charity helping deaf people with health problems.

Sign launched SignHealth last year with the endorsement of the Department of Health.

The initiative enables health workers to communicate with deaf patients who use British Sign Language (BSL) at the click of a mouse.

A new enhancement to the programme enables a deaf patient and their GP to have two-way communication with a live interpreter using a web-cam.

This means a doctor can have almost instant access to a sign language interpreter allowing them to deal easily with emergency or deaf patient appointments.

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Deaf people in Sandwell should soon be able to have better access to their doctors, thanks to a web-based computer programme developed by a national charity helping deaf people with health problems.

Sign launched SignHealth last year with the endorsement of the Department of Health.

The initiative enables health workers to communicate with deaf patients who use British Sign Language (BSL) at the click of a mouse.

A new enhancement to the programme enables a deaf patient and their GP to have two-way communication with a live interpreter using a web-cam.

This means a doctor can have almost instant access to a sign language interpreter allowing them to deal easily with emergency or deaf patient appointments.

In common with the rest of the country, Sandwell has a desperate shortage of fully qualified sign language interpreters.

This means deaf people in the borough may have to book an appointment with their GP weeks ahead to be sure of having the support of a sign language interpreter at the consultation.

Phil Murden, managing director of SignHealth Ltd, said: “We don’t intend SignHealth to be a replacement for a face-to-face interpreter, but for certain types of consultation it can give deaf patients in Sandwell the option to have an appointment with their GP immediately.”

Another feature allows health professionals to create and send text messages to deaf patients.