GAVIN NEWLANDS MP JOINS CHARITY’S CALL FOR DEAF RENFREWSHIRE RESIDENTS TO SHARE VIEWS OF HEALTH SERVICE ACCESSIBILITY

Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, is supporting a campaigning charity’s call on deaf Renfrewshire residents to share their experiences about accessing health services.

The Scottish Government’s new Health and Social Care Standards and the British Sign Language (BSL) National Plan both aim to improve the accessibility of health services for people in Renfrewshire who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

The charity is urging local residents who are Deaf or have hearing loss to complete a short survey to give details about whether their individual communication needs are currently being met when booking or attending hospital, health centre or GP appointments.

The information from survey respondents will play a vital role in highlighting where health services are doing well in being accessible for deaf people and also where there could be room for improvement.

Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said: “It’s great to see the Scottish Government taking steps to deliver improvements in the everyday accessibility of public services for people who are Deaf or have hearing loss – including health services.

“I’m pleased to support Action on Hearing Loss Scotland’s call for people in Paisley and Renfrewshire North to complete the charity’s Access to Health Services survey to provide vital information about how accessible hospital, health centre and GP surgeries currently are for patients who are Deaf or have hearing loss, so that any needed improvements can be highlighted.”

The survey can be completed online at www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/access, which has BSL translation, or paper copies can be requested by emailing scotland@hearingloss.org.uk or calling 07388 227407.