What’s it like to be deaf and unwell?
Is it easy to see a GP?
How difficult is it to communicate the symptoms?
How are you understood?
What happens if you need to go to hospital?
The London Assembly Health Committee is reviewing access to health services for d/Deaf[1] people in London. As part of the review, a seminar hosted by Andrew Boff AM, will look into practical, cost-effective improvements that can be made to health service provision.
The following guests will speak at the seminar:
Brian Kokoruwe - Founder/Consultant, Deafinitequality
Emma Whitby - Chief Officer, Healthwatch Islington
Richard Webb-Stevens - Motorcycle Paramedic for London Ambulance Service
Harinder Dhaliwal - Assistant Director for Engagement & Inclusion at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
The seminar will take place on Thursday, 2 October from 10am in Committee Room 5, at City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA).
Media are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed via webcast.
Notes for editors:
The term D/deaf is used to describe people who are Deaf (sign language users) and deaf (who are hard of hearing but who have English as their first language and may lipread and/or use hearing aids). Generally, the 'small d' deaf do not associate with other members of the deaf community, strive to identify themselves with hearing people and regard their hearing loss solely in medical terms. 'Big D' deaf people identify themselves as culturally deaf and have a strong deaf identity. The Big D deaf tend to have attended schools/programmes for the deaf, while the small d deaf tend to have been mainstreamed and/or never attended a school for the deaf.
British Sign Language (BSL) and palentypists will be utilised for the meeting.
Andrew Boff AM, Deputy Chair of the Health Committee, is available for interview – see contact details below.
As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and balance on the Mayor
For more details, please contact Alison Bell in the Assembly Media Office on 020 7983 4228. For out of hour’s media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit, on 020 7983 4100.