D/deaf Awareness

Our innovative D/deaf awareness training, funded by Bright, equipped staff with valuable skills to communicate with people living with hearing loss.

One in six people in the UK have a hearing loss and at Northumbria, we respond to the needs of all our patients and service users.

Through our innovative D/deaf awareness training programme, our staff were able to learn valuable skills. Our aim was to improve communication methods for staff who interact with our 10% of profoundly Deaf patients and 90% of patients with a hearing loss.

Whilst staff are required to attain and maintain many national training standards, as set by NHS England and relevant professional awarding bodies, we took a proactive approach in offering a variety of programmes and initiatives providing additional support and opportunities for staff to progress in an inclusive and engaging workplace.

Through the support of our D/deaf Awareness Project Officer, Margaret Robertson, hundreds of staff took on bespoke training opportunities and learned more about how to communicate and support our patients, visitors, and fellow colleagues with a hearing loss.

Margaret retired in 2023.