"Awareness of the deaf in our community"

My wife, who is deaf, was recently offered a video consultation with the Respiratory department at RCH Treliske. We both assumed that it would be through a BSL interpreter (first ever video consultation). Not the case.

My wife faced a blank screen as the video at the other end did not work. Luckily, I was at home at the time to act as interpreter. This is no fault of the Dr on the other end. If the camera was working, at least my wife would have had the opportunity to lip read the Dr.

I do wonder why she was offered the video consultation in the first place as it must state somewhere in my wife's notes that she is deaf and was born deaf and her first language is BSL.

This is not the first time something like this has happened, Deafness is an invisible disability and of times my wife has been referred to as rude. Basically what I'm trying to point out is the awareness of the deaf in our community. It makes for awkward and embarrassing situations. Just a few minutes reading through the notes would help greatly.

I would reiterate, this is not a complaint, just an observation.