NHS Staff Forced Teenager to Tell Deaf Mother Her Father Was Dying, Report Reveals
A shocking investigation by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has uncovered distressing failures in NHS care for deaf patients. The report details how hospital staff repeatedly used children as interpreters for a deaf grandfather, including asking a 16-year-old to tell his mother that her father might not survive the night.
Systematic Failure to Provide Professional Interpreters
Alan Graham, a 75-year-old man who was born deaf and used British Sign Language as his first language, was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham in June 2021 following a fall. During his 11 weeks of hospital care across two admissions, professional sign language interpreters were provided on only three occasions despite legal requirements mandating such support for deaf patients.
Instead, medical staff repeatedly turned to Mr. Graham's teenage grandchildren to communicate critical medical information. His grandson Connor Petty, aged 16 at the time, was asked to inform his mother that Mr. Graham might not survive and that CPR should not be administered if needed. Staff also used his 12-year-old granddaughter Mia to relay details about his care and treatment.
Family Distress and Communication Breakdown
"It was extremely frustrating, every day I was asking for an interpreter," said Jennifer Graham-Petty, Mr. Graham's 52-year-old daughter who was also born deaf and uses BSL. "My children just wanted to visit their grandad and be there for him as family members, but they were constantly being asked to translate by the staff."
She explained that while her children knew some BSL, they were hearing individuals without professional interpreting skills, particularly for complex medical terminology. "Having to deliver the bad news about my dad's prognosis was totally unacceptable and very upsetting for all of us," she added.
Ombudsman Findings and Recommendations
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman concluded that University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust had failed to follow national guidance and repeatedly used children to interpret critical medical information. While the lack of interpreters didn't directly impact Mr. Graham's medical care, it caused significant worry and stress to the family by severely affecting their ability to communicate with healthcare professionals.
The trust has been ordered to create an action plan to prevent similar occurrences and has apologized to the family. They have also paid compensation of £900 to each grandchild and £750 to Ms. Graham-Petty for the impact of these failings.
Broader Concerns About Healthcare Accessibility
The ombudsman has raised concerns about access to BSL interpreters with both NHS England and the Royal National Institute for Deaf People. Victoria Boelman, director of insight at RNID, described the case as "unjust and unacceptable," noting that communication support for deaf communities in healthcare settings is often "woefully lacking."
Ms. Graham-Petty emphasized the need for systemic change: "Too often there is a lack of interpreters in healthcare settings all over the UK. There needs to be more awareness about the barriers faced by deaf people, and things need to change."
Hospital Response and Future Commitments
A spokesperson for University Hospitals Birmingham stated: "We offer our sincere apologies to Jennifer, Connor and Mia for their experience, at what was a very difficult time for them. We recognise that we did not get things right and understand the impact this had on them."
The trust claims to have implemented learning actions since 2021 to improve the experience of deaf patients and their families, including strengthening awareness and accessibility arrangements. They remain committed to providing inclusive, compassionate care for all patients.
This case highlights ongoing challenges in ensuring equitable healthcare access for deaf individuals across the National Health Service, with calls for better joint working between health professionals to automatically provide interpreters for those who need them.
