On Demand BSL Access for Deaf Patients

Posted on June 11th, 2020

We would like to inform members of the deaf community of a new scheme from SignHealth and InterpreterNOW which will is designed to help improve access to health services for patients who are deaf or have difficulty hearing.

BSL Health Access is designed for anyone who needs to communicate using British Sign Language (BSL), in a health situation, can use the service. Deaf and hearing people can both use the service. You can download the InterpreterNow App and register on your phone or tablet or you can go to the website and use your computer and webcam to use the service.

If you need to speak to a healthcare professional, users can just connect to the service using their smartphone or tablet, (or using a device that’s provided by the hospital), via the InterpreterNow App. Users will then be connected to a live interpreter on their device who they can then sign to. The interpreter will then speak to the hearing healthcare staff in the room through the speakers on your device. This can be used during consultations with GPs, with hospital staff or in general every day life. This service also works for calling NHS 111 and more information about this can be found here.

All the interpreters are fully registered and qualified with either NRCPD or SASLI/ SRLPDC. They have many years experience of working online. All calls are fully confidential, and we do not record calls. This service is free at the point of use by deaf people or anyone wanting to communicate in sign language in a health service situation and is paid for by the Deaf health charity, SignHealth. It is hoped in future that the government will fund this service.

A full Frequently Asked Questions page can be found by clicking here and you can register to this service by clicking here