NEW research today revealed a shocking breakdown in communication between deaf people in East Lancashire and their family doctors.

A report by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People disclosed that a quarter of deaf patients walk out of their GP's surgery with no idea what is wrong with them.

And many, according to the Breaking the Sound Barrier report, have now given up visiting their doctor when they fall ill.

Problems the research highlighted include:

Doctors not looking at patients while they talk to them.

GPs refusing to write things down.

In some cases, GPs refusing to accept that the patient cannot hear.

A third of deaf people in the North West have to rely on friends or relatives to interpret for them during appointments - some of which include personal examinations.

The report added: "Many patients fall at the first hurdle - making an appointment - as reception staff are ill-equipped for communicating with deaf patients."

But a similar survey of GPs, also conducted by the RNID, showed that 87 per cent thought they communicated effectively with deaf patients.

Kath Wilson, RNID director in the north, said: "It is outrageous to think that a deaf or hard of hearing person receives a lower standard of primary health care simply because of their hearing loss. "If I were a GP, I would be extremely worried. The real irony is that when it comes to communication only a small amount of effort makes a world of difference. The sooner GPs wake up to this the better."

But David Noblett, secretary of Lancashire Medical Committee, said there were problems to be learnt on both sides.

"It is important that doctors are aware that deaf people do sometimes have problems communicating," he said.

"Also, if deaf people do not understand what their GP is telling them they will have to try and make this known so they don't walk out of the surgery without knowing what is wrong with them."

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