Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health to detail any steps he is taking to support community pharmacies to improve accessibility for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or living with dual sensory loss.
Minister of Health: The Health and Social Care system is committed to ensuring that services commissioned or supported by my Department are accessible to all patients, including those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or living with dual sensory loss.
Community pharmacies, as independent contractors, are required to comply with relevant equality and disability legislation, including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and to make reasonable adjustments to ensure equitable access to pharmaceutical services. This includes consideration of patients’ communication needs and the provision of accessible and patient-centred care.
My Department supports community pharmacies through contractual and professional frameworks which emphasise effective communication, inclusion and patient safety. Pharmacies are encouraged to make use of a range of communication approaches, including written information, visual aids, hearing support technologies, flexible consultation methods and, where appropriate, interpretation and communication support services.
In addition, all patients accessing Health and Social Care services in Northern Ireland, can access communication support through the regional Health and Social Care Communication Support Service. This service provides British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation, both face-to-face and remotely, as well as lip speaking and electronic note-taking support.
My Department also recognises the important role community pharmacy plays as one of the most accessible parts of the health service. My officials continue to engage with community pharmacy stakeholders and representative organisations to promote awareness of accessibility requirements and to encourage the sharing of good practice in supporting patients with sensory impairment.
Communication support services can be booked by healthcare providers:Online via the HSCNI booking portal https://signlanguageinteractions.com/hscni/ , by email at bookingsni@signlanguageinteractions.comor by telephone on 0333 344 7712.
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