Integrating Deaf Awareness in Primary Care
Deaf Awareness Week is an important opportunity for Primary Care to consider the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing patients and colleagues. With around 12 million people in the UK experiencing hearing loss, Primary Care has a key role in fostering accessible and empathetic care. By embracing Deaf Awareness Week and integrating its principles throughout the year, the Nottinghamshire Alliance Training hub hopes Primary Care teams can significantly impact both patients and workforce colleagues.
Addressing Communication and Access Barriers
Nottinghamshire Alliance Training Hub recognises Primary Care settings often present challenges for deaf and hard-of-hearing patients due to communication barriers. Misunderstandings in medical conversations can lead to delayed diagnoses and discomfort. For example, patients who rely on lip-reading face challenges when staff wear face masks. Solutions such as clear masks, visual aids, and British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters can greatly enhance patient care and inclusivity.
Creating an Inclusive Workplace
Deaf Awareness Week also highlights the importance of supporting deaf colleagues. Deaf employees in healthcare face unique barriers, from participating in meetings to accessing training. By raising awareness, NATH can encourage Primary Care teams to improve communication practices creating a more inclusive workplace that strengthens the overall team dynamic.
Solutions such as clear masks, visual aids, and British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters can greatly enhance patient care and inclusivity.
Ongoing Training and Health Equity
Primary Care teams often lack training on how to support deaf individuals. Deaf Awareness Week encourages investing in skills like basic BSL and effective communication techniques. This promotes health equity by ensuring that deaf and hard-of-hearing patients receive the same quality of care as others, fostering trust and building a more adaptable and inclusive healthcare system. This is why NATH hosted 2 events in collaboration with Nottingham Deaf Society to give Primary Care colleagues free BSL training.
Resources
Deaf Awareness Week is a meaningful time for Primary Care to make lasting improvements in inclusivity and understanding. By addressing the challenges faced by deaf patients and colleagues, primary care teams move closer to a compassionate, equitable healthcare environment that benefits everyone. For further reading and resources please find associated training material.
(NATH Associate)
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Tagged as: **New Posts, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)
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