Supporting deaf people

Pilot to improve BSL access at pharmacies

British Sign Language (BSL) users can now get immediate help communicating with pharmacists anywhere in Scotland through a new UK-first video interpreting service.

The pilot lets BSL users connect with an interpreter via their own smartphone. They can then speak face-to-face with pharmacy staff about minor illnesses such as a sore throat or cough, with no need to book in advance.

Deaf people who rely on BSL have previously faced communication barriers when engaging with community pharmacies and this represents a new way of independently obtaining support. The Contact Scotland BSL Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) pilot was introduced by the Scottish Government following engagement with Scotland’s deaf community and will run for six months. 

Public Health Minister Maree Todd said:  

"Pharmacy First is a vital service that gives quick and easy access to advice and treatment for everyday health concerns, often without needing an appointment. Now deaf BSL users can also walk into any pharmacy and receive the same fast, independent healthcare advice as everyone else.  

“This is removing barriers and ensuring BSL users are not left waiting or without support when they need it. I want to help people access more services at their fingertips, in their communities and closer to home. 

“Scotland is the first part of the UK to have a fully funded free-to-use service which has been shaped by the views of BSL users themselves and this pilot is the next step in expanding access. I thank everyone who helped the Scottish Government bring this forward.” 

A spokesperson for Community Pharmacy Scotland said: 

"We are pleased to see that this initiative seeks to enhance the experience of people who use British Sign Language We expect that pharmacy teams will have even greater confidence that they are understanding and meeting the needs of the people in their surrounding areas." 

Contact Scotland BSL interpreters are supplied by Sign Solutions and Managing Director Clare Vale said:  

‘We are delighted to see the VRI pilot now live, marking a significant milestone for the Contact Scotland BSL service. This is an important step towards improving access to pharmacy services for deaf and deafblind BSL users across Scotland. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on accessibility.”