Deaf and hearing loss community help shape Fit for the Future

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust has pledged to work with deaf and hard of hearing people to improve access to healthcare following a dedicated engagement event.

The event gave members of the community the opportunity to share their experiences and help shape the Trust’s Fit for the Future strategy, which aims to improve access to services and provide more care closer to home.

The session was co-designed with deaf people following an earlier public engagement event, with discussions focusing on interpreting services, digital accessibility, staff behaviour and organisational culture.

Among the priorities identified were allowing deaf patients to book interpreters directly, improving accessibility within the NHS App for British Sign Language (BSL) users and addressing attitudes and behaviours experienced by deaf patients.

Attendees also highlighted the need to ensure care closer to home works effectively across community and primary care services, and to improve the use of QR code technology in emergency departments and other services.

The Trust said it would work with the deaf and hearing loss community to take these priorities forward over the coming months.

Group chief people officer Dr James Fleet said the event had provided an opportunity to listen to patients and understand what needed to change.

He said: “We know that if we are to deliver truly accessible healthcare, we must design services alongside the people who use them.

“The conversations were honest, constructive and insightful. We heard clearly about the importance of accessible information, interpreter provision, digital inclusion, staff awareness and the need to ensure care closer to home works effectively for deaf patients.”

Gail Worsey, an advocate worker at Sandwell Deaf Community Association, said it was encouraging to see senior staff listening to the community’s experiences and ideas.

She said she hoped the event would mark the beginning of an ongoing partnership to make healthcare more accessible and inclusive.

The Trust’s Fit for the Future strategy sets out plans to make greater use of digital technology, focus more on prevention and shift more care from hospitals into community settings.