Cambridgeshire Deaf Association (CDA) has welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s commitment to launch cross-party talks on the future of social care but says those reforms must deliver lasting change for deaf people who continue to face significant barriers to accessing health and social care.

The charity says any overhaul of the system must put accessible communication at its heart, warning that thousands of deaf people across the UK are still unable to access services on an equal footing because information is inaccessible, communication support is inconsistent, and too many professionals lack an understanding of deaf awareness.

As a charity delivering health and social care services across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, CDA supports thousands of deaf and hard of hearing people every year through NHS hearing aid services, advocacy, communication support, community wellbeing services and regulated care.

Andrew Palmer, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Deaf Association, said:

“I really welcome the opportunity to have a genuine, cross-party conversation about the future of health and social care. These are services that every one of us will rely on at some point in our lives, so we need to get this right for the long term.

From our perspective as a charity working with deaf people every day, accessibility has to be at the heart of that conversation. Too often information isn’t provided in an accessible way, qualified communication support isn’t available, and people are left struggling to understand their options or make their voices heard.

No one should receive poorer care simply because they are deaf, yet that’s still the reality for far too many people. When communication breaks down, everything else becomes harder. Assessments can be inaccurate, care plans don’t always reflect what people really need, and opportunities to live independently can be missed altogether.

One of the biggest successes we’ve seen has been the introduction of independent advocacy through the Care Act. Advocacy has given many deaf people the confidence and support to understand their rights, express their wishes and make informed decisions about their own care. We’d like to see that protected and strengthened as part of any future reforms. There are many great examples where this works but there are still many occasions when it doesn’t.

We also need much stronger expectations around communication support. It’s simply not acceptable that important assessments or care reviews still take place without qualified BSL interpreters, deafblind interpreters or other appropriate communication professionals. If someone can’t fully participate in the conversation, how can we expect the right decisions to be made about their future?

That also means investing in better deaf awareness training for social workers, care providers and healthcare professionals, alongside properly funding communication support. Accessible communication isn’t a luxury or an optional extra – it’s the foundation of safe, effective and person-centred care.

I also hope this conversation goes beyond care in its narrowest sense. Deaf people are far more likely to experience isolation because of communication barriers, and loneliness has a real impact on physical and mental health. Investing in community support, reducing isolation and helping people stay connected improves lives and helps people stay healthier for longer, reducing pressure on health and social care services.

If we’re serious about building a health and social care system that’s fit for the future, deaf people’s needs can’t be an afterthought. Accessibility has to be built into the system from day one. If we get that right, we’ll create services that are fairer, more inclusive and deliver better outcomes not just for deaf people, but for everyone.”

Key points CDA would like included in the national conversation

  • Accessibility should be a core principle of any future health and social care reforms.
  • Independent advocacy under the Care Act has transformed outcomes for many deaf people and should be protected.
  • Stronger expectations are needed to ensure appropriate communication support is available for health and social care assessments and reviews.
  • Health and social care professionals should receive better training in deaf awareness and accessible communication.
  • Public bodies need sufficient funding for qualified communication support, including BSL and deafblind interpreters.
  • Future reforms should recognise the impact of isolation and communication barriers on deaf people’s wellbeing and invest in community-based support that promotes independence and good mental health.