 In September 2011 NHS Gloucestershire moved to consolidate its PCT interpreting and translating services to a single company outside of the county. For the first time in years, Deaf people in Gloucestershire are no longer able to pop along to GDA and organise their own communication support for GP appointments.
The petition 'Save local BSL interpreting for Glos Deaf' gives Deaf people in Gloucestershire and others a chance to raise a combined voice and say it cannot be right that BSL interpreting is so casually lumped together with languages like French or Spanish.
NHS Gloucestershire says it is keen to promote 'Advancing Equality in the NHS in Gloucestershire' for vulnerable and hard to reach groups, and also a more people-centred approach to health. If you think this needs questioning in the light of what has happened, please add your signature to the campaign by clicking on the petition name above or the logo link below.
Thank you.
Comments from People who have already signed the petition:
"Until you experience deafness you don't realise what an enormous handicap it is. GDA is a lifeline to many people. It should be encouraged and supported." Mrs Winnifred Jones, Gloucester
"This service can be vital to GPs like myself to obtain accurate information. Like the idea of a video link." Anonymous
"My daughter is profoundly Deaf and she needs this service. Only people who are Deaf or involved with Deaf know how important this service is. We need to keep this service local." Svetlana Karboua, Cheltenham
"This is an incredibly important service that helps the deaf patients within our practice." Dr Simon Handley, Gloucester
"I have used GDA interpreters with great success in the past for my patients." Dr Iain Jarvis, Gloucester
"I really value the service the Gloucestershire Deaf Association has give to my patients over the years, and am always impressed by the professionalism of the interpreters." Dr Justine Foster, Longlevens Surgery, Gloucester
"In most areas where BSL interpreting has been contracted out Deaf people are receiving a lower standard of service. They have fought hard over the years to have the right to a professional service and these standards should not be eroded in the (very shortsighted) interest of saving money." Jules Dickinson, Nottingham
"Deaf people should continue to be allowed some choice and control over which interpreters they use. It would be much better for the Deaf community if this service remains local." Elizabeth Thomas, Huddersfield
"This has happened in other areas with GPs and hospitals. They have realised their mistake because of bad service and getting unqualified 'interpreters' and serious complaints from the local deaf community. They are now reconsidering the contract." Elvire Roberts, Nottingham
"There is legislation that is meant to stop deaf people from being treated less favourably. It is shocking to see this being ignored." Colette Phippard, Basingstoke
"This practice removes the right of Deaf people to have choice and control (Office of Disability Issues), whereby services are managed by an agency with little experience of Deaf people's needs. The centralisation of agency services will only cause more delays, missed appointments and consequently greater deterioration of Deaf people's health and well-being. A local agency provides a visible face for the service Deaf people receive and provides effective engagement. Hence, keep it local!" John Walker, Brighton
"Empowering Deaf people means that there must be a good understanding between the interpreters as service providers and Deaf people. Spoken language interpreting agencies would not behave the way they do with BSL provision had they built over time a good rapport with members of the Deaf community. It seems they are just grabbing a business opportunity and forgot about the people." Brigitte Francois, Blackheath
"This is a very worrying, growing, trend, where contracts are awarded to agencies who have little or no knowledge of either the logistics of BSL interpreting or the Deaf Community. Full and appropriate communication to primary health care is vital to all Deaf people, particularly those who have BSL as their first language. Fully qualified and experienced BSL interpreters who understand medical jargon and how to translate it into BSL are absolutely vital in ensuring that the correct information is transmitted to the Deaf patient. Use of unqualified or inexperienced interpreters (often for reasons of economy) has, on more than one occasion, shown to be unacceptable and risky.
"Poor communication at primary care level can lead to future mental health issues - so a totally false economy." Roger Hewitt, General Secretary, The British Society for Mental Health and Deafness
"Imperative to have local interpreting services provided to Deaf people by local professionals who have the knowledge, experience and expertise." Andy Long, Maryport
"This is a national as well as local problem." Anonymous, Kings Lynn
"Need our Glous (own) interpreters." Samantha Bryan, Gloucester
"Keeping the service at GDA may or may not be the answer: but transferring COMMUNITY INTERPRETING responsibility to service providers who have a) no knowledge of the local community and b) no or shallow awareness of the language and culture with which they are dealing is DEFINITELY NOT the answer. Saving money in the short term will lead to predictable costs when poor quality interpreting leaves confusion, miscommunication and inefficiency in its wake." Professor Graham Turner, Edinburgh
"Deaf people in Gloucestershire currently receive a high quality BSL service delivered by qualified interpreters. When BSL services get subsumed into a larger 'all language' contract, experience shows that the service deteriorates. Unqualified interpreters are used even though commissioners will state that not to be the case. In all health settings only experienced qualified interpreters should be used. Anything less puts people's health at risk." Steve Powell, CEO, Sign Health
"As a support worker for Deaf and hearing impaired people I am aware of people who have not been happy with an interpreter who has been provided for Doctors appointments." Jo Lewis, Gloucester
"Interpreting service stay with GDA, they are good service people." (sic.) June Powell, Hereford
"As a long term user and supporter of Gloucestershire Deaf Association's facilities, I strongly support the retention of direct local access to BSL interpreters for visiting health centres. It is well established, works well and proposed changes will make life more difficult, not better, for deaf users, so will be less cost effective long term." Anonymous, Stroud
"There are too many services being cut and people with disabilities are being marjonalised (sic) even further. We should all fight to save whatever services we can. Too many services are cut and people are not being treated as individuals but as just a number or statistic. I work with Adults with LD and know how the services that are being cut are affecting the individuals I support." Anonymous
"Once again it seems that the most vulnerable and isolated in our society are sidelined. They should not have to fight for basic help in communicating with the hearing world." Anonymous
"It important to keep BSL interpreter to help for the deaf people's. Without it, it ging to be very hard to communicate with doctor/dentist etc. I have to help my wife going through dentist/doctor etc to help understanding each together." (sic.) David Holcombe, Cheltenham
"It important to keep BSl interpreter to help for the deaf people's (sic.). without it, it going to be very hard to communicate with doctor/dentist etc." Sally Holcombe, Cheltenham
"The service is essential to provide independence for profoundly deaf people." Roger Tovey, Highnam
"Deaf people rely on the personal touch that they receive from the one to one contact available at the Gloucestershire Deaf Association." Averil Craddock, Stonehouse
"This is a vital service for the hearing impaired and needs to be kept local." Linda Lewis, Gloucester
"I would like GDA to continue their interpreting service as it is good accessible for deaf people and they can communicate in sign language. Without their service I am sure deaf people will get more suffering cos the doctor surgeries are not aware how to book an interpreter. Some receptionists have bad attitudes and they have no patience to understand when deaf patient asks them to book an interpreter. Deaf patient will not know who interpreter is coming. BSL is deaf's first language." Mrs Gill Freeman, Gloucester
"I prefer to come to GDA office for booking an interpreter because I can pick my interpreter choice." Michael Sadler, Gloucester
"There are many benefits of using a locally run BSL interpreter service: providing local jobs, building community links and social capital, supporting local Deaf advocacy, keeping money in the local economy (local provider will source services from local suppliers). Putting everything into one contract is a false economy." Mrs Isabel Livingstone, Liskeard
"Must have an interpreter at doctors or wherever need cos commuinctions (sic), without interpreter we will feel lost and breakdown." Anonymous
"I want to help save the local BSL interpreter service." Becky Lilley, Birmingham
"Deaf people are often the last to be considered in many ways. To have a locally based organisation who knows these people is vital for providing the best means of interpretation and communication. It has worked so well for many years. It must not be allowed to change." Rev'd Steve Morris, Chaplain for the Deaf, Gloucester
"It is good to have brief, but helpful relationship, with the providers of a service and hearing services is a very important one. This relationship is vitally important particularly when it is older people who are seeking assistance. So local people delivering the service are often a lifeline ofr us older ones. Please keep it delivered by those who live locally." Mick Churchward, Gloucester
"Easily accessible BSL interpreting services are invaluable for deaf people and should be easily accessible." Neil Moffatt, Gloucestershire
"GDA is a local well known resource for Deaf people in Gloucestershire. It is the most obvious, most accessible base for an interpreting service." Menna Pugh, Gloucester
"BSL is very different from spoken language, it should be kept separated from other interpreters. BSL should definatley (sic) stay with GDA the people that know what they are doing." Sue Sewell, Q-Care, Gloucester
"Local services must not be lost and particularly when interpreters support Deaf people in hospitals and GPs with their health, which is critical for them to follow and understand fully. Research has shown that Deaf people without the right support do not always follow medical advice because they didn't understand and incorrectly take medicine. I pledge my full support for this service." Joanne Dutton, Churchdown, Glos
"It is vital for Deaf people to express information to health professionals as accurate as possible and for health professionals to treat their patients, including deaf patients, with accurate information. Failing to do so would be a breach of Human Rights and failing their duty of care." Reg Cobb, Stroud
"I need an interpreter for my GP, it is really very important for me." Chris Hart, Tewkesbury
"This is an incredibly important service!" Jessica Hopkins
"Witholding key information so that local service providers are not able to tender for the services they already provide is immoral, unprofessional and possibly illegal." Paul Harries, Gloucester
"Having been a regular visitor/user to the Glos Deaf ass over the past twelve month (sic) I support the services they both directly supply and in-directly to the community as a whole." Michael Glazier, Gloucestershire
"The needs of Deaf people are too often overlooked. Too often it is the Cinderella of services." Daphne Pearson, Monmouth
"The interpreting service GDA provides is invaluable. Please listen to the local community and keep BSL interpreting services at GDA. Gloucestershire Deaf Association are experts in their field and have an excellent rapport with the local Deaf community." Samantha Quinson, Cheltenham
"I understand that translation contracts (BSL and Chinese) were taken away from two local suppliers without even giving them an opportunity to re-bid. We believe that translators who are embedded in their local communities are essential to ensure that those often 'not listened to' are properly supported." Julius Marstrand, GOPA
"This should be a local service for our Deaf community." Mary Hailes, Gloucester
"Gloucestershire Deaf Association have been doing this service for so long they know a lot of clients and there (sic.) needs. I feel they are treated as real people and not just a face less number. We are dealing with people. . .who need consistancy (sic.) and compassion. It all ran very smoothly, and it was easy to do. Now it is all very up in the air and more complicated at a time people need help not hinder." Emma Jenkins, Cheltenham
"The service supplied by Gloucestershire Deaf Association is excellent and should be reinstated. The needs of the local Deaf community should be served by the local Deaf charity." Kim Osmond, Q-Care, Gloucester
"I manage a specific needs customer forum within the police service. We are heavily involved with the Deaf Community. We have implemented numerous processes to improve access to services. Much of the problem is that communications tends to be based on 'voice'. BSL is the preferred language of a growing number of folk, many of whom have to rely on that method. We need interpreters and we need to facilitate better use." Mark Woodward, Tewkesbury
"I am the social worker for the Deaf with Gloucestershire County Council. Without a decent BSL interpreter service that is easily contactable and can provide an interpreter at short notice, I would not be able to work with Deaf service users or provide the best outcome for them." Pauline Taylor, Gloucester
"I am very concerned about this move and its potential impact on people's health." Councillor Philip Booth, Gloucester
"Too often we are seeing the negative effect of spending cuts on service users. Yet again we find ourselves fighting to increase accessibility and raise awareness around equal opportunities for our Deaf communities." Lorraine Kapp, Gloucester
"There are enough cutbacks on vulnerable people. This service sould be kept local @cost to be manageable." Dee Danes, Gloucester
"I want GDA have BSL service cos we know the staff well and they are professionals when it comes to our needs." Hazel Yorke, Gloucester
"GDA are in a very good position and highly experience to offer BSL service that we in the community will
benefit. Help support the campaign to have it at GDA." Steve Yorke, Gloucester
"Whoever thought of this needs flogging. The GDA already does a huge amount for us when it should be provided from our taxes by the NHS. This is not only about communication, it's about trust and local means just that. The interpreters in Gloucestershire are part of the Deaf Community, not just a service on call." Marcus Boon, Dymock
"More and more essential services are being lost, isolating far too many members of the community. Budget decisions are being made by the very same people who mis-manage public funding
and it is the end user groups who are continually suffering." Christian Averiss, Cheltenham
'It's hard enough arranging to see a doctor or your child's teacher but when you also need to book a BSL interpreter there is added stress. The knowledgeable, local service offered at GDA means Deaf people across Gloucestershire have equality of access to essential services. Moving to a more national model means a loss of that local understanding of services and destruction of all the positive relationships built up by the GDA team between Deaf people, their service providers and the interpreters." Nicole Hastie, Cheltenham
"As a BSL signer I feel it is important to retain all services for the Deaf. People shouldn't have to fight just because they are deaf/disabled." Julie Danks, Weston-Super-Mare
"Please keep this essential service." Rachel Bray, Gloucester
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