Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his Department has made available for NHS staff who are D/deaf and rely on lip-reading, for whom guidance on face masks may be challenging.
It is recognised that the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic can cause particular communication difficulties for d/Deaf staff and others who rely on lipreading and/or facial expressions for communication. Teams who work directly work with d/Deaf colleagues should be prioritised locally for the use of PPE which facilitates effective communication (including clear-fronted masks or hoods).
NHS England and NHS Improvement are also working to source clear face masks for those members of staff and clinicians who need them.