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Pioneering Video Link Signals Way For Future Communications Between Deaf Community And Health Providers

January 16, 2002

The Leicester Centre for Deaf People, supported by funding from Leicestershire Health Authority, has launched a groundbreaking video communications initiative to provide a round-the-clock remote sign language interpretation service which will drastically improve communication between healthcare providers and the deaf community.

Part of the Government's Health Improvement Modernisation Plan, it is being heralded as a breakthrough in providing the Deaf community with equal and fair access to health services and could revolutionise the way that Deaf people communicate with healthcare providers and other public services all over the country.

Up to now the lack of qualified sign language interpreters has presented a major obstacle to healthcare provision for Deaf people. There is approximately only one interpreter for every 140 Deaf people in this country, so availability is extremely limited, and they come at a high cost, especially given the amount of travelling they have to do.

The new initiative developed by the Centre for Deaf People in Leicester, in conjunction with Motion Media, the UK's leading technology developer and manufacturer of video communications solutions and Sumlock 2000, a videoconferencing and telehealth consultancy, seeks to overcome this issue.

Sumlock 2000 has installed Motion Media desktop videophones at 13 different sites throughout the county. They will be located at the Centre for Deaf People, three University hospitals, one community hospital, four selected GP practices, which have been identified as having the highest number of Deaf patients, and at four homes of qualified interpreters.

When a Deaf person enters one of these surgeries or hospitals, the GP, consultant or nurse will then make a voice call to either the Leicester Centre for Deaf People, where the remote interpretation service will be available between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Thursday and 9pm to 4.30pm on a Friday, or to an out of hours number.

A co-ordinator will receive the calls in both instances and will request a brief explanation regarding the nature of the interpretation required, including any confidentiality issues, and whether a female or male interpreter is required. If and when the interpreter is appropriate, the co-ordinator will then contact the interpreter who then initiates the video call.

Says Philip Kilgour, a director at the Centre: "Given the scarcity of registered qualified sign language interpreters and a national shortage of training courses, Deaf people will continue to be denied equal rights when it comes to the provision of health services.

"There are many examples through anecdotal evidence of deaf people being frustrated at outpatient clinics; being isolated in wards as inpatients; and using friends or even their own children when visiting their GPs."

Adds Kilgour: "Video communications frees up our interpreters time and provides an invaluable resource. It was not uncommon for a 15 minute consultation to take two hours when including the travelling time. This could also be very costly. More than 30 per cent of our current cost of providing access across all health services to Deaf people, via interpreters, is attributable to travel time.

"By providing a three way visual communication between interpreter, Deaf person and healthcare provider, the video links will improve the Deaf community's access to health services. In particular, it will enable them to have equal access to primary care and acute health services, which will be vital with the introduction of the new Disability Discrimination Act.

"Significantly the improved accessibility to qualified sign language interpreters, via the video links, will enable medical staff to make more accurate diagnosis and prescribe more appropriate treatment and advice."
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JBP Public Relations