GPs urged to adopt online sign language translation

A UK charity is urging GP practices to adopt a web-based sign language translation service which is currently available free of charge.

The online sign language translation service won the BT E-Health Insider Award for product innovation in 2008.

Sign Health, a charity focused on the needs of the deaf community, says it has been prompted to write to some GP practices on behalf of deaf patients after Deaf Day 2009, the UK’s largest event for the deaf community.

Deaf people at the event who wanted to use their service gave their surgery details to the charity which has now written to them on the patients’ behalf.

SignTranslate will translate more than 300 medical questions into British Sign Language (BSL) using short video clips and has been made available free of charge to practices until 31 July 2009 via the SignTranslate website.

Practices using the GP IT system EMIS can access the program via an embedded link from the EMIS desktop.

Phil Murden, managing director of SignTranslate, told EHI primary Care that the strong likelihood was that SignHealth would go on funding the software after 31 July.

He added: “The charity is about improving access to health care services for deaf people and its absolutely critical that you are able to communicate with your GP.”

For more complex consultation SignTranslate also enables access to fully-qualified BSL interpreters via a web-cam. The program also makes spoken and written translations into 12 foreign languages.

Dr Joe McGilligan, Chair of ESyDoc LLP consortium for East Surrey, said Sign Translate had been installed in every practice in east Surrey.

He added: “SignTranslate is a great thing for every GP to have. It's so much better to be able to see a patient straightaway rather than having to wait until you can get an interpreter. The software's very easy to use and also helps us work with other patients by translating into other languages as well as BSL.”

Steve Powell, SignHealth chief executive, said: “We urge GPs to visit www.signtranslate.com and contact us to find out how they can implement this free service.”

Link

Sign Translate