My wife and I do a lot to support deaf older people in the community. Recently a friend of ours who has no experience of using an interpreter was admitted to hospital as an inpatient. I am also deaf and my friend sent me a text asking me to go to see them in the hospital to offer a wee bit of help with communication. I was more than happy to do that.
I went to the hospital and waited until the interpreter arrived with the nurse, the two of them arrived and came up to me together.
The reason I was there is because my friend is an older deaf person and used to the sign language that we have used for a longer time which the younger generation do not always use and some language can be interpreted differently.
So the interpreter started working and one of the signs they used was ‘something to remember’ which we do not use here in NI as it translates as ‘revenge’ (so remember translated to my friend as revenge). This caused some confusion as my friend thought that that was what they thought they were saying. My friend said, “I never said I wanted revenge on anybody”
I was trying to clarify to my friend what the interpreter actually meant but it was very confusing for them and didn’t help when the nurse also jumped in.
When it was over I went and I wrote a note to the nurse to say that I could help with future booking of interpreters.
I think this particular interpreter was too young and I could help with finding interpreters that are more appropriate.
Wrote all that down on the note and gave it to the nurse. The nurse took the note and then just took off. They looked a bit cross.
I didn’t get a response to my note.
I then later checked with my friend to see if they had had interpreters again, which they need as they are an inpatient in the hospital. Another interpreter did come out and the deaf person told me it was a bit better.
Just wanted to say that the first nurse I thought was a bit rude, didn’t listen to me and I felt didn’t want my input, but I think they should have listened to me on my friend's behalf.
My last comment is that there is an older generation of deaf people and I think they should be allowed access to interpreters who really understand how to communicate and the way to do this is to be communicated with themselves, direct feedback at the point of booking the appointment.
My intention with this feedback is to improve services.
Video of story in BSL
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Video of story in ISL
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"Interpreters in hospital"
About: Royal Victoria Hospital (Belfast) Royal Victoria Hospital (Belfast) Belfast BT12 6BA
Posted by plutosy39 (as ),
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