Deaf services and hearing support
Services for deaf or hearing support
Services for Deaf and hearing impaired people are provided through the health and social care partnership.
Communication support services for deaf people
If you need a BSL or English interpreter to access:
- our services, such as Housing or Council Tax
- medical services provided by NHS Highland
- citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) or Highland Hospice services
The staff in these organisations should be able to book an interpreter for your appointment. However, if you would like to make sure one is booked you can contact:
Email: communication.support@highland.gov.uk
Text SMS: 07884 731378
Telephone: 01349 886650
All the interpreters we use are either SRLPDC or NRCPD registered, and appointments/meetings are carried out in strict confidence.
We can provide an interpreter for:
- appointments face-to-face, or online through Microsoft Teams (for example, GP appointment, Highland Council departments, CAB meeting)
- appointments online through NHS Near Me (for example, GP or medical appointment)
- duty appointments - face-to-face or online through Microsoft Teams
Duty appointments are to book a BSL or English Interpreter to:
- make interpreted phone calls (for example, to book a GP appointment)
- translate something from English into BSL (for example, a letter from the Council)
- translate something from BSL into English (for example, an email to CAB)
Contact the Communication Support Bookings Team and ask for a “Duty” appointment.
All appointments: try to request an interpreter as far in advance as possible. It may not be possible to provide an interpreter for on the day requests.
Contact Scotland BSL
BSL users can also contact us or NHS Highland using Scotland’s online BSL video relay interpreting service.
Sensory impairment services
We have developed a single strategic approach in partnership with other bodies to ensure that community services offered to people who are Deaf, deafened, hard of hearing, blind or deafblind are based on good collaborative practice.
For more information, see Talking sense in the Highlands – a single strategy for sensory needs in the Highlands.