Support for people with hearing or speech impairments

If you are deaf or have hearing loss health and care services must do what they can to make services accessible. 

This includes providing interpreting services, technology such as hearing loops and providing information in alternative formats such as email, text or easy read. 

The RNID website has information about making NHS services accessible to people with disabilities and sensory loss. This information is also available in British Sign Language.  

The RNID website also has a communication card that you can download, print and fill in, to tell the receptionist at your appointment about your unique communication needs.  

Relay UK 

If you are deaf or have a hearing loss or impaired speech and need help to communicate over the phone, a confidential service called Relay UK can help with this. The service will connect you to a relay assistant. 

If you cannot hear, the relay assistant can type what the caller is saying so that you can read their responses.

If you cannot speak the assistant will read your typed responses to the caller.

To access the service download the free Relay UK app onto your smartphone, tablet or computer and link it to your phone number. 

You can contact NHS 111 using the Relay UK app by dialling 18001. 

You can also contact NHS 111 by dialling 18001 111 on a textphone. 

You can make an emergency 999 call with Relay UK, by dialing 18000 instead of the normal 18001 through the Relay UK app or from a textphone.

emergencySMS 

You can also contact the emergency services by text using emergencySMS. You must register your phone before you can send a text message to 999 using the emergencySMS service. Text the word ‘register’ to 999.