The new All Wales Standards for Accessible Communication and Information for People with Sensory Loss have put pressure on facilities management and service staff at healthcare institutions across the country.
The standards aim to ensure that the needs of people with a sensory loss are met at all times, with public bodies needing to take positive action so that all access and communication requirements are dealt with efficiently.
The document, which was recently published by the Welsh Government, sets out the standards of service delivery that people with sensory loss should expect when they access healthcare. The standards apply to people of all ages.
These new guidelines have been introduced to safeguard blind and/or deaf members of the public and assure them that they are not at a disadvantage when in need of healthcare services. They have been fast-tracked by the Welsh Government, after it was revealed that many health boards were actually in breach of equality laws.
Section 20 of the Equality Act 2010 states that owners of public buildings have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for anyone who may be at a disadvantage of accessing services due to a disability.
Furthermore, under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) it is mandatory for ALL public buildings to make adequate provision for the disabled and specifically, the hearing impaired.
Combined with the international technical standard for audio frequency induction loops (IEC 60118-4) – which stresses that loop systems must ensure that the perceived loudness of sound from the loop is the same as from the microphone in the hearing aid – it means that many induction loop systems are currently falling short of legal requirements.
Vaughan Sound aim to ensure that all induction loop equipment is in optimum working order. We are also Approved Installers for Current Thinking and Univox – two of the UK’s leading manufacturers of induction loop systems.
Vaughan Sound offers testing, installation, repair and maintenance services to assist with legal compliance, whilst also providing simple reports, guidance and professional solutions. In house specialist software even allows us to design bespoke systems for difficult applications.
For further information regarding our induction loop system products and services contact us today on 01554 740500 / info@vaughansound.co.uk.