"According to Millie, staff have called her on the telephone to discuss appointments despite her explaining she cannot hear. "They still carry on ringing, which is frustrating as I have to rely on other people to find out what they want meaning I have no independence," she added. On the day of her surgery, she was told the interpreter had cancelled, but an available nurse was capable of basic signing."
"A survey by hearing loss charities RNID and SignHealth, published in 2025, found 7% of respondents who required a professional to help with communication at appointments always had one. NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) said the small number of qualified BSL interpreters was a long-term challenge needing national attention. Millie said not having an interpreter made her "feel like I'm being ignored" and at risk of "missing out on essential information"."
A shortage of qualified British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters working with the NHS has left deaf patients misunderstood, frustrated and facing delays to treatment. One patient experienced a year-long wait for surgery after appointments were cancelled because no interpreter was available. Staff sometimes phone patients who cannot hear, forcing reliance on others and reducing independence. NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB identified the small number of qualified BSL interpreters as a long-term challenge needing national attention. RNID and SignHealth found only 7% of those needing professional communication help always had an interpreter. An estimated 73,000 people use BSL in England.
Read at www.bbc.com
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