MSP Welcomes RNID Report om Potential for Health Savings

Banff and Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has expressed concern at the findings of a report, ‘A Simple Cure?’ published by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf which suggests that the NHS is wasting £20 miilion a year due to a lack of deaf awareness

Commenting on the report, Mr Stevenson said:

“I was shocked to learn that the lack of deaf awareness could cost the NHS the staggering amount of £20 miilion in one single year. Obviously, this is a very worrying figure indeed and a trend which seriously needs to be reversed.

“Money is lost due to deaf and hard of hearing people missing their appointments, simply via poor communication. Even more worrying is the fact that many deaf and hard of hearing people leave hospitals unclear of their condition due to communication problems with their GP or Nurse. Furthermore, it is very serious indeed that over one third of British Sign Language users were either unsure of the correct dosage of medication to take as their health professional could not communicate effectively.

“These problems needs to be addressed and a cost effective solution found in order to see a reduction in the number of missed appointments, which will benefit everyone. Moreover, to make sure that deaf and hard of hearing people know the correct dosage for their medication, the report suggests all frontline NHS staff should be given deaf awareness training. Such a move would be an enormous help to both staff and patients.”