“This is the first time someone has been able to explain everything to me.” In this hospital, a dedicated unit welcomes deaf and hard of hearing people

This service does not exist anywhere else in Limousin. For several months at Limoges University Hospital, access to care has become complete for people suffering from deafness thanks to this unit which is entirely dedicated to them.

Marine Sanchez was received, that day, for the first time in this new unit of the Limoges University Hospital, dedicated to deaf patients.

In the office, the doctor is assisted by a French sign language interpreter. The latter translates the doctor’s words to the patient, then translates the patient’s words out loud to the doctor. This service does not exist anywhere else in Limousin.

“Until now, I went to see the treating doctors, I used mime, a little writing to try to communicate, but, suddenly, there was a lot of information that I didn’t understand”says Marine Sanchez.

And this is the first time that I have had access to a general practitioner who can explain everything to me in much more detail, in the presence of the interpreter. It does a lot of good.

The doctor therefore takes the time to clarify certain explanations from doctors previously consulted by the patients. Understanding and trust are all the more important elements for these people with deafness.
“We do a little bit of the whole assessment again when they arrive here, because often, the assessments have not been done. They have difficulty, in fact, going to a doctor who will not understand them and who will not understand everything what the patient needs”, explains Dr. Pascale Capdeviell, general practitioner.

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In the service, even the secretarial services are provided in sign language.

The team includes Vincent Cottineau, an intermediary. He supports patients in their care journey, and can also, if necessary, translate French sign language into that of another country. This afternoon, a Ukrainian patient benefited from his help.

I can rephrase, take the time to explain to them, that’s what the mediator’s role is, initially. So, it reassures patients a lot, the fact that I am deaf, we share the same language, the same culture.

Vincent Cottineau

intermediary

Opened in March, the unit already welcomes around thirty patients each month.

Republication du 15/09/2024