AQW 17073/22-27
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford
Tabled Date: 21/10/2024
Answered On Date: 04/11/2024
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any action he is taking to ensure fair and equitable access for people who are deaf and hard of hearing to all services provided by (i) Health and Social Care Trusts; and (ii) GPs.
Answer:
Health and Social Care Trusts The Health and Social Care trusts are committed to delivering services that are accessible to people who are deaf and hard of hearing. Trusts work proactively to ensure that services comply with the statutory Equality and Disability duties, for example Section 75 of the NI Act 1988, Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and promote best practice. Some of the work within Trusts includes: Dedicated Trust Sensory Support Teams Trust Disability Consultation Panels Videos which are available in BSL and ISL and subtitled versions Deaf Awareness Training / Toolkits for staff / Guides Staff mandatory regional training, for example, Equality, Good Relations and Human Rights; Making a Difference eLearning. Promotional material, such as Posters / leaflets Provision of assistive listening devices Attendance at Deaf Service Users groups JAM (Just A Minute) Card, providing support to those with communication difficulties. Care Opinion HSC Disability Action Plan 2024 – 2029 HSC Trusts in Northern Ireland worked collaboratively on the development of their new five-year Disability Action Plan and Equality Action Plan (2024-2029). The plans outline actions and initiatives to address section 75 inequalities, improve equality of opportunity, promote positive attitudes for disabled people and improve their participation in public life. The Actions in the Plan have been shaped by an audit of inequalities, engagement with experts by experience and key stakeholders and formal consultation. A specific Action is included in the 2024 – 2029 Plan in relation to deaf and hard of hearing service users. This commits all Trusts to continue the roll out of the Health and Social Care Regional Communication Support Service for People who are d/Deaf, d/Deafblind and Hard of Hearing and improve access to Sign Video within hospitals using computers and phones accessing the Trust Wi-Fi. Regional Communication Support Service (RCSS) The RCSS was introduced on 1st April 2023 and offers a range of in-person and remote sign language interpreting services for health and social care appointments. The service is provided by Sign Language Interactions (SLI) and is delivered through one central booking service. SPPG have set up an Advisory Board to help advise and shape the RCSS for people who are deaf and hard of hearing in Northern Ireland. (ii)GP’s The GMS Contract states that for GP services, ‘a contract must contain a term which requires the contractor in core hours- to provide – essential services, and additional services funded under the global sum, at such times, within core hours, as are appropriate to meet the reasonable needs of his patients’. It also stipulates that the practice leaflet must detail, ‘Whether the practice premises have suitable access for disabled patients and, if not, the alternative arrangements for providing services to such patients. All patients accessing an HSCNI service including GPs and their hospital appointments can access Sign Language Interactions a BSL / ISL Interpreter.
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