Equality & Qualified Interpreting

I am writing about British Sign Language Qualified Level 6 Interpreters. We have been concerned the Interpreters for Deaf People are being CUT such as NRCPD Fully qualified Register Level 6 (indentified by the Yellow Badge) for National Health Service (NHS) at Royal Preston Hospital. The Hospital has been booking NRCPD Trainee Interpreters (indentified by the Blue Badge) and as such are a Lower Level which is unacceptable. Deaf People are not satisfied with having to use Trainee Interpreters. However, we are aware lots of Deaf People who are living in North West of England have been complaining about Trainee Interpreters. It seems they are being used because they are cheaper compared to Qualified Interpreters. Myself and my Family are Deaf and we always used Co-Sign Interpreters for many years, as they always and only employ Qualified Interpreters. But Co-Sign are not being booked by the Hospital at Preston and Chorley anymore.

In my opinion you need to be made aware for those Deaf People who live around Preston they need Qualified Level 6 Interpreters with NRCPD YELLOW BADGE.

Please I would urge you to help us to bring Co-Sign Interpreters Back, Trainee Interpreters are Not Qualified for NHS Hospitals we have been concerned about this situation. It is unfair for Deaf People who are having deal with barriers and it's quite upsetting for them who are really struggling to understand Trainee Interpreters in complicated consulatations.

I believe we have a right to get Qualified Interpreters and the NHS should know better that Deaf People are finding such difficulties. So would you please help and fight for Level 6 Interpreters Back for NHS Hospitals?

Our First Language is British Sign Language (BSL). Also at the moment the NHS are often providing SignVideo in place of real Interpreters which is Deaf People do not feel conformable using as they rather see Face to Face Interpreters. Technology is just one more barrier.