British Sign Language Act
Scotland has an Act of parliament called the British Sign Language Act which received Royal Assent on the 22nd October 2015.
In 2016 a national advisory group was established to help support the development of the first national action plan.
On the 24th October 2017 the first national action plan was launched. Each local authority area has to also have a local plan. There is a heath section in our local plan and this is the responsibility of NHS Fife. The Act tells us and we have detailed this in the local plan, to; promote the use of BSL as a language in its own right, ensure that we have learning about BSL and Deaf patients in place, we must provide information and improve ways to access information in BSL on a range of topics including screening and improve outcomes for mental health and wellbeing.
NHS Fife BSL Plan Outcome 1- Fife Services
NHS Fife BSN Plan Outcome 6: Mental Health and Wellbeing
Fife's BSL Plan 2018-2024
BSL videos are on the NHS Inform YouTube channel and embedded on NHS inform.
BSL Scotland Act 2015 Health Report
The British Sign Language Act (BSL) came into force during 2015. The Act requires that we make local plans which promote and raise awareness of the language. This report details how NHS Fife is meeting our responsibilities to the BSL community and what more NHS Fife and other boards need to do to continue to improve and advance equality for BSL users.
Read the BSL Scotland Act 2015 Health Report
Requesting translations
If you require information to be translated into another language, audio, BRAILLE, BSL or Large Print please contact the service, clinic, your doctor, nurse or send an email to Fife.EqualityandHumanRights@nhs.scot.
Working with BSL Users
See the document here.
