Edinburgh Deaf Services Cut, Community at Risk

Deaf people in Edinburgh are reportedly at increased risk following changes to specialist services, according to the charity Deaf Action. The Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership (EHSCP) has withdrawn funding from Deaf Action, which previously supplied tailored support, including social workers and specialist equipment.

This decision has caused considerable stress within the deaf community, who relied on deaf-led support for British Sign Language (BSL) users. Jennifer Staples, a deaf resident, expressed concern that current generic services lack the specialized understanding of deafness and BSL, creating barriers to effective communication and support.

Deaf Action continues to support individuals from neighboring council areas but faces challenges with Edinburgh residents seeking assistance. The charity highlights that while EHSCP is offering in-house deaf awareness training, a one-day course is insufficient to cover the nuances of deaf history, culture, and access needs.

Concerns are exacerbated by incidents such as a deaf woman having a 'do not resuscitate' order mistakenly added to her records and a deaf man with special educational needs going without heating for four months due to communication issues. Both Deaf Action and EHSCP acknowledge a national shortage of BSL-trained social workers.