New communications service for deaf people
Deaf and foreign language patients at the Royal United Hospital will be helped by a pioneering new communications service.
The RUH, Bath, is working with Sign Health, a national charity for deaf people, to offer a service called Sign Translate to patients.
This will give profoundly deaf patients online access to a fully trained interpreter who translates the consultation. Sign Translate also converts more than 500 medical questions into British Sign Language video clips for a deaf patient.
These questions are also available in 12 foreign languages.
Consultant respiratory physician Dr Andrew Alexander, who has a deaf daughter, has been the driving force behind bringing the system to the RUH.
Comments
This scheme is being run in partnership with terptree, a sign language interpreting agency. Deaf patients can log onto the system and access an interpreter over a webcam, enabling instant interpreting services. For more info visit www.terptree.co.uk/online
Posted by: Chris Dawson | July 7, 2009 11:06 PM