The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7262 p204
16 August 2003

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  Sign language
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Letters to the Editor

Sign language

More effective communication

From Mrs M. Y. Sharma Kapoor, MRPharmS

I have always prided myself on having good communication skills when it comes to working with patients. However, during a recent locum I encountered a couple of deaf patients and found myself having to resort to a “speech to text” method of communication. I felt unsatisfied at not being able to communicate with these patients more effectively — resorting to writing down what I wanted to ask felt too primitive.

There are an estimated 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the United Kingdom, and the numbers are likely to grow since the population of over-60s is increasing (presbyacusis being the commonest type of deafness). The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 says that if you provide goods and services to the general public it is unlawful for you to refuse to serve a deaf person, or to provide a service of a lower standard or on worse terms to a deaf person. You must also take steps to make your services more accessible to deaf people.

Bearing this in mind, I have enrolled on a British sign language course. Although it will be time-consuming and hard work, I am sure it will enable me to communicate more effectively with the deaf and hard of hearing population. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society defines continuing professional development as “everything that you learn which makes you better able to do your job”. I am pleased that I have found a more unusual approach to CPD.

Monica Sharma Kapoor
Leeds

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