"Problems for hearing-impaired patients"

I have recently visited outpatients at Wycombe and Stoke Mandeville Hospitals, and A & E at Stoke Mandeville. I am very grateful for the care received by myself and my husband at all these visits. However, the visits were made more stressful because of lack of thought for patients with Hearing Loss, which applies both to myself and my husband. Both at reception , where a barrier separates the staff from patients, and in the waiting room, it was very difficult to hear what was being said, I understand why there needs to be a barrier at the reception desk, for the safety of the staff, but there needs to be some way of amplifying the instructions given.

In the waiting areas, trying to listen for one's name being called, especially, as in A&E when there is a lot of other noise, is so difficult. Some staff do try to speak more clearly, but many seem to find this very difficult. Perhaps some training from the audiology department might be helpful.

It may seem trivial, but it makes appointments so stressful, and I feel that a little thought could greatly improve the experience for many patients.