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"Hearing impaired in emergency dept"

About: Craigavon Area Hospital / Emergency Department

(as a service user),

I experienced poor practice for patients with hearing impairment while waiting in ED. Despite informing reception, my name was called over tannoy, which I cannot hear (luckily a relative insisted on staying for this reason). Despite then reiterating this to a nurse, I was called again via tannoy. My relative was unable to leave to go to toilet etc in the meantime in case I missed being called. A buzzer system would be a suggestion - one that activates a vibration when it is your turn (or a screen with name and where to go to although this would not suit those with visual impairment). Simple changes would make an already stressful situation more bearable. 

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Responses

Response from Christine Armstrong, Care Opinion Facilitator, Patient Experience, Southern Health and Social Care Trust 2 years ago
Christine Armstrong
Care Opinion Facilitator, Patient Experience,
Southern Health and Social Care Trust
Submitted on 27/04/2022 at 08:00
Published on Care Opinion at 08:00


picture of Christine Armstrong

Dear orionjt83 - thank you for this feedback and apologies for the delay in responding. Your hearing impairment should have been passed to one of the triage nurses from reception. They should have went out to find you in the waiting area. The triage nurse should record your hearing impairment in the ED notes with a recommendation that staff know to come out into the waiting area to find you. This is the existing system which is basic but if staff adhere to it, it usually works.

We cannot use a screen to display names as people may feel this would breach their confidentiality.

We hope you are recovering well

Best wishes

Paul

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