Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to improve general practitioner and hospital services for deaf people, and in particular …

The Executive is committed to ensuring that all patients are enabled to be full partners in making decisions about their own care. NHS boards and Trusts are expected to ensure that arrangements are in place to meet the communication needs of people who are deaf or hard of hearing.Guidance, which included sections to raise awareness of the communication needs of deaf and hard of hearing patients, including the use of interpreters, was issued to the NHS in 1999. A training video about the needs of deaf and hard of hearing people using hospital services was issued with the guidance.Standards developed by the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland are designed to ensure that all patients are provided with a clear explanation of, and relevant information on their condition and any treatment, investigation or procedure proposed, including risks and alternatives. A national review of the local delivery of these generic standards is now under way.More generally, as part of work on the Executive's Equality Strategy, a Framework Group has been established to develop standards for translation, interpreting and communication support across the public sector, this includes the needs of those who are deaf and hard of hearing. In addition, a British Sign Language and Linguistic Access Working Group has been established to develop a strategic approach to BSL issues.