Deaf patient given wrong jab due to sign language error, report says
A deaf woman was incorrectly administered a Covid vaccine instead of a flu jab due to a lack of British Sign Language interpretation at her doctor's surgery. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has ordered the surgery to apologize and compensate the patient for the communication failure.
Why it matters
It highlights systemic failures in healthcare accessibility for disabled patients and the legal necessity for public services to provide adequate communication support.
Image source, Getty Images By Beth Rose and Emma Tracey , Disability affairs reporters Published 16 minutes ago A deaf woman was given the wrong vaccine because she was not provided with a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter at her doctor's surgery, a report says.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) said disabled people were being let down by inaccessible communications.
It said the patient, Samantha, had booked a flu jab but was instead given a Covid vaccine after staff failed to show her a BSL video which would have highlighted the error. She said the experience had had a "profound impact" on her.
The Department of Health and Social Care said the "deeply upsetting stories" were "completely unacceptable" and NHS and social care organisations had a duty to make services accessible.
The PHSO investigates complaints about UK government departments, public organisations and the NHS in England.
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