THE UK Government has been told it can save lives if it follows Scotland’s lead on having sign language interpreters at daily coronavirus conferences.
SNP MP Martin Docherty-Hughes has written to the Prime Minister calling on him to include sign language interpreters at the UK Government daily briefings to prevent those with hearing difficulties being further isolated because they are unable to understand government advice.
It comes after a leading Scots charity warned the information void could be “life-threatening” for people with hearing loss.
An estimated 12 million people suffer from hearing loss in the UK, with tens of thousands of people relying on British Sign Language (BSL) to understand important public health information.
Unlike the Scottish Government, the UK Government does not offer a BSL service which is both live and available on mainstream TV channels during daily briefings.
According to the British Deaf Association, the lack of interpreters could exclude around 151,000 deaf people across the UK from vital Covid-19 information.
Derek Todd, BSL consultant for deaf Scotland, told the Edinburgh Evening News: “This is a life-threatening issue. People in the deaf community are dying because of lack of information.
“Many deaf people are frightened to go to the shops in case they accidentally break the rules.”
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Though sign language features can be viewed on the BBC News channel and on BBC i-Player, they are not available on mainstream TV coverage of the daily conferences.
The lack of interpreters has prompted a legal challenge against the Government from campaigners who claim Downing Street is breaching the Equality Act 2010.
Legal firm Fry Law has started judicial review proceedings on behalf of the #WhereIsTheInterpreter campaign, with organisers hoping to raise £15,000 through crowdfunding for the court effort.
Docherty-Hughes implored the UK Government to act.
He said: “I am urging the UK government to ensure – without delay – that there is a sign language interpreter at every UK government daily press conference going forward to prevent further isolation for those who are deaf or with hearing difficulties, and maximise the reach of government advice and people following it.
The MP for West Dunbartonshire added: "The evidence is clear that older people are particularly at risk from COVID-19, and given that 70% of people over the age of 70 suffer from hearing loss it's worrying that many vulnerable people in the deaf community may be unable to access vital public health guidance at this time.
“This small change in practice at UK Government daily press conferences will go a long way in supporting those citizens who are deaf or have hearing difficulties and treat them as the equals that they are within our communities and society.”
Downing Street said only that it is hoping to increase BSL interpretation in coverage of the briefings.
A statement reads: "We have established BSL interpretation at the daily No 10 press conference via the BBC News Channel and iPlayer ... and are working to ensure greater replication of this signed interpretation across a wider range of media channels."
Sign health UK offers a daily Coronavirus signed update: signhealth.org.uk/resources/coronavirus/
NHS inform has a webpage focusing on BSL users and Coronavirus here.
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