NHS services - support for deaf and hard of hearing patients
The emergencySMS service
The emergencySMS service lets deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people in the UK send an SMS text message to the UK 999 service where it will be passed to the police, ambulance, fire rescue, or coastguard.
Simply by sending an SMS message to 999 you can call for help and the emergency services will be able to reply to you.
Click here to download the emergencySMS leaflet.
You will need to register your mobile phone before using the emergencySMS service
Contact 999 using Relay UK
999 using a Relay Assistant
Dial 18000 instead of the normal 18001 through the app or from a textphone
App
- On the Relay UK app, simply tap the 999 button and then confirm to make an emergency call - or if you're using NGT Lite, call 18000 on your phone's dialler.
- Click 'Join' in the app window.
- You’ll connect to 999 and a Relay Assistant.
- Tell them which service you need then follow their responses in the app’s conversation window.
- The 999 operator will then connect you to the right emergency service.
Textphone
1. Call 18000.
2. You’ll see ‘Emergency, which service? GA’ on your screen.
3. You’ll connect to 999 and a Relay Assistant.
4. Tell them which service you need then follow their responses on the textphone screen.
5. The 999 operator will then connect you to the right emergency service.
You must register your phone before you can use it.
NHS111
NHS111 can be contacted by using Signvideo which allows patients to access NHS111 via a BSL interpreter. This can be accessed 24/7, it is free and more information on this can be found here: https://signvideo.co.uk/nhs111/.
Northern Care Alliance - Interpretation & Translation Service
British Sign Language
To book a BSL interpreter click on this link and fill out the details booking form
Or email: interpretation@pat.nhs.uk
Mobile Text: 07966 003540
Direct BSL Line: 0161 656 1917 or 0161 627 8770
When booking an interpreter by email or text please provide the following details:
- language with dialect
- patient name
- hospital/NHS number
- appointment date, time and venue, and possible duration (if known)
- whether a male or female interpreter is required (subject to availability)
- name, telephone and email address of requester
An email confirmation will be sent to the staff/requester’s email (NCA email only) with details of the booking.
For more information:
Interpretation & Translation Service
