It Makes Sense Campaign

Each year the NHS in Wales runs a campaign to raise awareness of the different communication and information needs of the 600,000 people in Wales living with some form of sensory loss (deaf or hard of hearing and/or sight loss).  The Campaign is called ‘It Makes Sense’.

The Campaign has key messages for patients with sensory loss, reminding them of their right under the Equality Act 2010 to have accessible communication and information whenever they need healthcare.  Patients and the general public are being encouraged to:

• TELL doctors, nurses, paramedics and other health professionals how they want staff to communicate with them;
• ASK to receive information in an accessible format including British Sign Language (BSL), large print, audio, electronic or Braille;
• SHARE their concerns with their GP surgery or hospital if the information they receive is not accessible to them.

National Campaign Launch

Activities take place across NHS Wales throughout the month of November. For example, a Health Board or Trust may run British Sign Language (BSL) and Sight Loss Awareness taster sessions or screenings of short films such as ‘The Silent Child’, followed by a Q&A with organisations such as the British Deaf Association. There is usually a larger joint event too which showcases recent progress and gives services users the opportunity to share their experiences.

Campaign’s Key Messages for all NHS Wales Staff 

FIND OUT from the Sensory Loss e-learning module the most effective ways to communicate with patients who are deaf or hard of hearing, are blind or have sight loss or have other communication needs.

ASK patients how they would like to communicate with you.

OFFER to give the information in the format they need, including British Sign Language, large print, electronic  or Braille.

We’d like to encourage all NHS Wales staff to support the Campaign.  The e-learning module called ‘NHS Wales - Sensory Loss’ can be viewed via ESR accounts.