PERFORMANCE: GPs in Haringey have attracted criticism after telling deaf patients they must pay for their own sign language interpreters at consultations.

The commissioning cluster for north central London said it received multiple complaints about “the refusal of GP practices to provide sign language interpreters”.

A report to the cluster’s board said: “Patients alleged that they had been informed that they would need to fund the interpreters themselves. Following investigation, it was established that interpreting had been decommissioned in the borough of Haringey.”

The cluster said “urgent” steps were being taken to re-commission the service to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.

Source

App 4.2) Q&S chairs report sept 2011 final2

Source date

September 2011

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