The University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust (UHS FT) established a group to advise on improving the patient experience of patients with sensory disability; i.e. Visual and Hearing disabilities.
This was part of a programme of work to ensure that UHS FT were compliant with the Accessible Information Standard introduced by NHS England which aims to make sure that people who have a disability, impairment or sensory loss are provided with information that they can easily read or understand and with support so they can communicate effectively with health and social care services.
Two members of the Healthwatch Southampton Strategy Group were invited to join the group to provide a patient perspective. The two members were Steve Beale and Harry Dymond both of whom have a hearing disability.
Healthwatch provided clear evidence that patients with sensory loss had great difficulty especially if attending outpatient clinics without support. In the case of hearing loss, we provided evidence of patients missing appointments having failed to hear their name called at clinics and of patients having difficulty in understanding instructions given at reception areas.
As a result, the group decided they should conduct an audit of hearing loops in UHS. The attached report was produced and approved by the sensory loss group. It was presented officially to the Patient engagement and experience group of UHS and subsequently escalated to the Quality Governance Steering Group. In view of the seriousness of the findings, Healthwatch Southampton decided to send a copy of the report directly to the CEO of UHS.
We are pleased to report that the trust has responded very positively to this report and the CEO has passed the issue to the Disability Steering Group chaired by the Director of Nursing for Prioritising and action and shared with the Director of Estates and Capital Development.
In the short term, Steve and Harry have offered to help with staff training and other advice and we have had a first contact with the estates Department.