Internal Reference Number: FOI_8991
Date Request Received: 23/10/2025 00:00:00
Date Request Replied To: 12/11/2025 00:00:00
This response was sent via: By Email
Request Summary: Deaf Patients and British Sign Language Interpreter Provision in Maternity Services
Request Category: Media
| Question Number 1: Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information relating to maternity services delivered by 91影视 NHS Foundation Trust: How many pregnant women had communication needs flagged under the NHS Accessible Information Standard (AIS) between 1 Jan 2020 and 31 Aug 2025? | |
| Answer To Question 1: The Trust are unable to provide data, as it is not stored Digitally, so therefore not available in a reportable format. | |
| Question Number 2: Of these, how many were recorded as requiring British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation? | |
| Answer To Question 2: Unable to provide data as per question 1. | |
| Question Number 3: Number and percentage of instances where an in-person BSL interpreter was provided during: - Antenatal/prenatal appointments - Intrapartum period (labour and childbirth) - including but not limited to elective caesarean section and emergency caesarean section. - Neonatal period - including but not limited to intensive neonatal care. - Postnatal/postpartum appointments - up to 12 months after the birth - including but not limited to community midwife and health visitor appointments. If this breakdown is not available, please provide the total number of occasions when this was the case across all maternity services. | |
| Answer To Question 3: The Trust do not have the breakdown between services. We only have data from 2022 to date due to moving to a new system. During the period of 2022 - to date there have been 0 requests for a BSL interpreter. | |
| Question Number 4: Number and percentage of instances where video remote interpreting (VRI) was used during: - Antenatal/prenatal appointments - Intrapartum period (labour and childbirth) - including but not limited to elective caesarean section and emergency caesarean section - Neonatal period - including but not limited to intensive neonatal care. - Postnatal/postpartum appointments - up to 12 months after the birth - including but not limited to community midwife and health visitor appointments. If this breakdown is not available, please provide the total number of occasions when this was the case across all maternity services. | |
| Answer To Question 4: The Trust do not have the breakdown between services. We only have data from 2022 to date due to moving to a new system. During the period of 2022 - to date there have been 0 requests for (VRI) to be used. | |
| Question Number 5: Number and percentage of instances where no interpreter was provided despite sign language needs being recorded. - Antenatal/prenatal appointments - including but not limited to elective caesarean section and emergency caesarean section. - Intrapartum period (labour and childbirth) - including but not limited to elective caesarean section and emergency caesarean section - Neonatal period - including but not limited to intensive neonatal care. - Postnatal/postpartum appointments - up to 12 months after the birth - including but not limited to community midwife and health visitor appointments. If this breakdown is not available, please provide the total number of occasions when this was the case across all maternity services. | |
| Answer To Question 5: The Trust are unable to provide data, as it is not stored Digitally, so therefore not available in a reportable format. | |
| Question Number 6: The number of: - elective caesarean sections involving deaf, hard of hearing, hearing-impaired, or deafened patients - emergency caesarean sections involving deaf, hard of hearing, hearing-impaired, or deafened patients | |
| Answer To Question 6: The Trust are unable to provide data, as it is not stored Digitally, so therefore not available in a reportable format. | |
| Question Number 7: Number of Datix incidents, complaints, or serious incident reports between Jan 2020 鈥� Aug 2025 involving deaf, hard of hearing, hearing impaired or deafened patients. | |
| Answer To Question 7: Unfortunately our Risk and PALS team are unable to provide data with regard to hearing impairments as it is not something that is recorded. | |
| To return to the list of all the FOI requests please click here |
Our staff at 91影视 District Hospital have long been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment they provide for our patients and for their innovation, commitment and professionalism. This has been recognised in a wide range of achievements and it is reflected in our award of NHS Foundation Trust status. This is afforded to hospitals that provide the highest standards of care.
