§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government is taking to ensure that deaf people are not discriminated against in accessing mainstream primary and secondary health care. [134940]
§ Dr. LadymanAction the Government are taking to help eliminate discrimination in all its forms from health services, which includes discrimination against deaf people, includes
The NHS Plan, which commits the Department to ensuring that public services are equitable and accessible for disabled people.221WThe Department of Health and the Department for Work and Pensions are co-operating on the draft Disability Bill, which will mean a significant extension of rights fix disabled people in the United Kingdom.The Department is working on a partnership framework for action on disability with the Disability Rights Commission. This will help ensure that the national health service and social care are ready to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act physical access duties from 2004.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what incentives he is giving to health trusts to ensure that deaf people are able to(a) express their consent to treatment and (b) make meaningful treatment choices. [134944]
§ Dr. LadymanHealth trusts are expected to make suitable provision to ensure that all patients who cannot easily access spoken English, including those who are deaf, are enabled to make informed consent to treatment and to make meaningful choices.
It is not considered that trusts need incentives to do this but, to encourage services to become more equitable and responsive, the Department is currently undertaking a national consultation, called 'Choice, Responsiveness and Equity', which will improve patient and user experience and build new partnerships between those who use health and social care and those who work in them.