Hearing Loss and Deaf Friendly GP Practice Charter

Beccles Medical Centre is committed to meeting the needs of our patients who have hearing loss or are Deaf.

We will achieve this by:

• Improving the ways that we communicate with you – helping you to contact us in several ways including online.
• Offering a BSL interpreter on request if a face-to-face appointment is required, when an appointment is requested through our receptionist.
• Making sure you can request via our online consultation system or website a British Sign Language interpreter being present if a face-to-face appointment is required.
• Making sure that when we meet with you that we look at you directly and speak clearly to help you understand what is being said.
• Using technology that makes it easier for you when visiting the surgery.
• Making sure our records show that you have hearing loss or are Deaf and what your preferred methods of communication are.
• Recognising the impact that hearing loss can have on your mental wellbeing and letting you know where you can get support for this.
• We have a pager service available at Beccles Medical centre. These are vibrating pagers that are available for patients who are hard of hearing or visually impaired. Please speak to a member of our reception staff if you feel you could benefit from this service.