Having already written to senior officers at Pennine Care, Oldham Hospital and CCG about their treatment of blind, deaf and disabled people, Councillor Louie Hamblett has had his concerns backed up by a Healthwatch UK report that many NHS trust are failing to meet their legal duty to help people with additional communication needs.
One local residents, Mrs Farnworth, complained to services last year regarding her experience with her past hospital appointments last year after she was turned away from a smear appointment because of the lack of disability equipment.
In his letter, Councillor Hamblett asked how much support their trusts and services are able to offer those with additional needs and whether they could assure him, residents and their patients that they will receive full and unrestrained standard support for those using their services.
Councillor Hamblett also recently spoke to another resident, Mrs Berry, who is visually impaired, who told him how she struggles accessing health services or reading small print letters from doctors or the hospital.
Residents and patients in Oldham hope to be reassured that they are fully supported by the trusts and services that provide their care.