Barrier to independence
Booking GP appointments can be hard, especially if you don’t use the telephone and your doctor’s surgery doesn’t offer other ways to book. Lots of deaf teens rely on friends or family to make an appointment, or we have to go to the surgery in person to book!
Being able to book appointments will help you feel more confident and learn how to do things by yourself. This is really important for your future.
Top tips for booking doctors appointments
- Many doctors’ surgeries now have online booking systems, or allow booking by text message or email. Ask how you can register for online booking.
- If your doctor’s surgery doesn’t have online booking, tell them what you need to make booking appointments easier. For example, you could book by text or email.
- Explain what support you’ll need during the appointment, for example if you need an interpreter or need the doctor to face you and speak clearly. SignHealth has template letters you can download to help make your preferences very clear to health services.
- Find out what services are available to help deaf people in your local area – they might have useful information for you.
- The law says that all health services – including your doctor’s surgery or hospital – must make sure you have the support you need to communicate with them. That includes booking interpreters or providing accessible booking systems. You have a right to be involved in discussions and decisions about your health and care.
- If you’re unhappy with your doctor’s surgery, you could change to a different one. Visit the NHS website to find other GP services near you.
We have the right to access healthcare without barriers.
