§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what incentives he is giving trusts to stay within the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 not to discriminate against deaf people in terms of equitable access. [147695]
§ Dr. LadymanI have been asked to reply.
Trusts are responsible for fulfilling the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), including the provision of equitable access for deaf people. There are a number of means by which the Department and others continue to help them.
In 1999, the National Health Service Executive issued management guidance to NHS trusts, health authorities and primary care groups in implementing Part III of the DDA and a guide "Doubly Disabled" was published to increase managers' and staff's awareness of disabled people.
Currently, the Department is developing with the Disability Rights Commission a framework for partnership action on disability, which identifies key areas for joint action. This will deliver real improvements for disabled people as users and providers of health and social care. Access and communication has been identified as a priority and the Department is establishing a working group to oversee a range of initiatives on access, including the production of sector-specific guidance on good practice, and a programme to promote awareness of the access duties set out in the DDA. The NHSU is also working closely with the Disability Rights Commission and others to develop a framework and programme to address training on disabilities issues in health and social care.