Deaf patient given wrong jab due to sign language error, report says
An ombudsman report says disabled people are being let down by a lack of accessible communication methods.
A deaf woman was administered the incorrect vaccine due to a lack of sign language support at her doctor's office, according to a report. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) highlighted that disabled individuals face barriers in communication, leading to inadequate healthcare services. Patient Samantha had scheduled separate appointments for flu and Covid vaccines but was mistakenly given the Covid vaccine after staff failed to provide a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.
The PHSO emphasized that public services are legally obligated to accommodate communication needs for those with disabilities, neurodivergence, or non-native English speakers. Samantha's case, along with another involving deaf cancer patient Alan Graham, prompted the Department of Health and Social Care to condemn the "deeply upsetting stories" and stress the duty to make services accessible.
The PHSO recommended the surgery apologize and pay Samantha £450, and it subsequently entered a contract with a sign language interpreting service. The NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board expressed regret over Samantha's experience and acknowledged the need for reasonable adjustments to ensure effective communication. Since April 2020, the PHSO concluded 623 investigations related to reasonable adjustments, with 496 upheld or partly upheld.
The report also stressed the importance of accessible formats, such as large print or audio materials, to prevent disabled people from missing crucial healthcare, financial, or employment information.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
