How we are addressing disability issues

It is the responsibility of service providers and employers not to discriminate against a person on the grounds of their disability, regardless of how the person may describe themselves. This is important because many people may not regard themselves as ‘disabled’, but they will still have rights under the Disability Discrimination Act. The law applies to all disabled people who use NHS services. This includes visitors and members of the public, as well as patients and staff.

Specific examples of work include:

Glasgow Healthy Living Centre for Deaf People. Launched in 2003 & funded by Glasgow City Council, the Greater Glasgow NHS Board and the Glasgow Healthy Cities Partnership, the centre has been involved in a range of health-related activities including health advocacy, health information, and project work such as Men’s Health Clinic, Heart Health & Physical Activity, Cancer Awareness and Smoking Cessation.

Communication Support and Language Plan. The plan aims to ensure that there is communication support in place for those using our services who require it.  This includes accessing support such as interpreters for British Sign Language users, a standardised approach to health information and appointments, letters in accessible formats and a means of providing communication support for these with complex needs.

Mental health and sensory impairment. The mental health service is being reviewed to make sure that it meet the needs of those with sensory impairment (affecting hearing, sight or voice).  This will include finding new ways to deal with the shortage of BSL interpreters, exploring the possibility of introducing a BSL counselling service in primary care and looking at how to ensure that people with sensory impairment access primary care mental health teams more easily.