Information about Coronavirus

We aim to keep this page as up to date as the situation unfolds.

Information about coronavirus in BSL

SignHealth has translated information from Public Health England and the Department of Health and Social Care into BSL,

Surge Testing in Chester areas CH1 3 and CH1 4

People who live or work in two Chester postcode areas are asked to book a COVID-19 test in response to the increase in positive cases of the Delta COVID-19 variant in the area.

Find out more

COVID-19 - NHS Test and Trace

We are working with NHS Test and Trace to ensure our centres are as safe and secure as possible.

There are QR codes around our centres that you can scan when entering to check-in.

Contact NHS 111 services if you are worried you have coronavirus OR you may have come in contact with someone who has coronavirus. There is an online service available at 111.nhs.uk/covid-19 or you can use InterpreterNow. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Click HERE to access common questions about Coronavirus from the NHS.

DSN Coronavirus Update

Six great short films to download in BSL from Public Health England

Videos include:

Home isolation and those with symptoms
Essential advice
Spot the signs
How to use the NHS
Face touching

Download Videos

999 Emergency SMS Service

The Emergency SMS service lets deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people in the UK send a SMS text message to the UK 999 service where it will be passed to the police, ambulance, fire rescue, or coastguard. You need to register before you can use it. All information on how to register for the service can either be found on the attached poster or by visiting www.emergencysms.net/

Paramedic Emergency Service crews also carry Pictorial Communication handbooks – more information can be found on them here: https://www.nwas.nhs.uk/services/help/pictorial-communications

Patient Transport Service

Patient Transport Service crews carry Pictorial Communication Handbooks to help communicate.

Find out more

Using NHS111

To use NHS111, you can use InterpreterNow to connect you to an online BSL interpreter who will phone NHS111 for you. The NHS111 adviser will ask you questions to assess your symptoms and then decide what to do next, depending on the severity of your health problem. This could be: giving you self-care advice, or direct you to the local service that helps you best, or if your health problem is urgent, they will send an ambulance for you.

To access InterpreterNow, you can either use the internet: https://interpreternow.co.uk/nhs111 (suitable with computers, tablets or phones) or through the InterpreterNow app (suitable for either Android or iOS) but to use the App you need to register it beforehand through here: www.interpreternow.co.uk/reg. It is recommended that you do this before you may need to use it.

Download InterpreterNow NHS111 App

Latest information for Wales / Gwybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar gyfer Cymru

Click here / Cliciwch yma

Staying at home due to coronavirus

Our partners at Cheshire East Council have produced an advice booklet: Staying at home due to coronavirus

Download Advice Booklet

Free BSL interpreter service for health professionals

Sign Health - the national Deaf Health Charity and a key partner for the Faculty's SORD (Social Research with Deaf People) team led by Professor Alys Young - has launched a new national service for immediate BSL (British Sign Language) interpreter access in health situations.
This means that any health professional - staff or student - who needs to communicate with a Deaf BSL user and vice versa can now do so immediately via remote access interpreting in real time.

The service covers all NHS funded services in England and Wales and is free for all who use it during the coronavirus pandemic.

For more details visit www.BSLHealthAccess.co.uk

Information about Coronavirus

We aim to keep this page as up to date as the situation unfolds.