SignTranslate on BBC SeeHear again
2009-10-21
Episode 17 of the BBC's SeeHear programme broadcast on 21st October 2009 included a very interesting segment about SignTranslate.
The programme showed SignTranslate being used live in the Cheam Family Practice surgery by Katie Meade and her doctor Rebekah Dowdy. Jessica Heller from BID Services was the On-line Interpreter.
A couple of things really highlighted the need for good communication support at the doctors.
Katie was able to check her understanding of when her doctor wanted her to return - in two months' time not two weeks as she had first thought - and crucially, to check that the painkiller her doctor was planning to prescribe did not contain codeine.
Both these things would have been very difficult to do without proper communication support.
The segment about SignTranslate can be seen in BBC's iPlayer until 18th November. It starts at 24:14 and finishes at 27:14. Click here to go to the iPlayer http://bbc.co.uk/i/nhqf6
The segment about SignTranslate is part of a larger segment about SignHealth charity's planned research into the health of Deaf people. This can be seen starting at 18:17
You can also see Maureen Moore and her daughter Toni Williams talking about Maureen's poor experience of a stay in hospital when no communication support was provided.
To take part in SignHealth's survey, register at http://iwantbetterhealth.org.uk