Still ignored: The fight for accessible healthcare (RNID, April 2025)

Summary

In this report, the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) and SignHealth demonstrate that the NHS does not have the systems in place to fulfil the right to accessible healthcare for people who are deaf or have hearing loss. This new research shows that the NHS often fails to meet the fundamental needs of people who are deaf or have hearing loss, clearly violating the rights set out in the Equality Act over 15 years ago.

The consequences can be devastating. People who are deaf or have hearing loss are deterred from seeking NHS treatment, don’t understand the information they are given and, ultimately, feel unable to manage their own physical and mental health because of the failures of the NHS to provide accessible healthcare.

Awareness of the key regulation, the NHS Accessible Information Standard, is low amongst NHS staff. In addition, patient information often isn’t recorded and shared accurately, and staff may not know how to access the information they need, or what action to take to ensure patients’ communication needs are met. The result is a system with too many barriers, undermining the ability of people who are deaf or have hearing loss to access safe and effective treatment.

Further reading on the hub:

• Top picks: 11 resources to support people with hearing loss or deafness