NHS Fife provides accessible communication in a variety of formats including for people who are speakers of community languages, who require Easy Read versions, who speak BSL, read Braille or use Audio formats. NHS Fife SMS text service number 07805800005 is available for people who have a hearing or speech impairment. To find out more about accessible formats contact: fife.EqualityandHumanRights@nhs.scot or phone 01592 729130.

Interpreting

NHS Fife has a responsibility to provide you with interpreting support whilst using healthcare services.

We provide interpreting services for patients who:

  • speak a community language
  • are registered Deaf and Speak British Sign language
  • are registered deafblind

Our contact details are:

Patient Relations
1st Floor
Hayfield House,
Hayfield Road,
Kirkcaldy
Fife
KY2 5AH

Telephone: 01592 729130 Ext: 29130
Email: fife.EqualityandHumanRights@nhs.scot

Contact Scotland BSL

NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For more details on using NHS 111 service visit When to contact NHS 111.

To get help from NHS 111 call 111 or if you speak British Sign Language use the ContactSCOTLAND-BSL interpreting video relay service.

For more details on how to use this service go to - contact SCOTLAND BSL

Deaf Communication Service

Fife Council provides British Sign language Interpreting for NHS Fife.

Fife Health and Social Care Partnership, hosts a service called the Deaf Communication Service (DCS). Deaf Communication Service provides advice and support about specialist equipment for Deaf BSL users, hard of hearing, deafened and Deafblind people at home and in the workplace. They also offer other services. For more details visit the Deaf Communication Service.

DCS are working in partnership with NHS Fife to support patients and create accessible local information. Accessible information in BSL video links etc can be found on the Deaf Communication Service BSL YouTube channel.

If you are D/deaf, for more information send a text to 07984356580 or visit the Fife Council Deaf Communication Service.

You can also follow DCS on Facebook at facebook.com/FifeDCS and Twitter @FifeDCS.

Equality Impact Assessments (EQIA)

See our Interpreting and Translation Service EQIA Oct 2020

Family Liaison Ipads

Wards across NHS Fife, have access to Family Liaison ipads which support our patients to keep in contact with their families when family visiting is restricted. These provide a ‘virtual visiting’ opportunity.

These ipads also have the Interpreter App installed on them.  They are used patients would like to ask, talk about or feel more included in ward life during their stay, as well as for interpreting and translation purposes.

Fife Community Interpreting Service

Fife Community Interpreting Service provides Community Language face-to-face interpreting for NHS Fife.

More information about this provider can be found at: www.fcis.org.uk

Interpreter on Wheels Devices

Throughout NHS Fife, there are ‘Interpreter on Wheels’ devices with the interpreter App installed on them. The Interpreter App supports communication for patients and staff via video and audio on demand interpreters.

It's okay to ask

Realistic Medicine puts the person receiving health and care at the centre of decision-making and encourages a personalised approach to their care. Research shows only 1 in 3 patients prepare questions to ask at their appointment, and as a result may leave a consultation unclear on the importance and impact of taking a prescribed medication, or without a clear understanding of the options they have for shaping or managing their own healthcare. These effects are seen more clearly within minority groups broken down by ethnicity, sexuality, and gender identity.

The Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2016-17 identified that ‘question prompts’ are an effective and inexpensive intervention which support patients in becoming more involved in consultations and their own healthcare. Our campaign aims to encourage patients to take time to consider what they need to know in advance of any upcoming appointment so they can feel confident and empowered in their healthcare plan.

What is the one thing we are saying?

“It’s OK to ask”

The questions we want people to consider are:

  • What are the benefits of my treatment?
  • What are the risks of my treatment?
  • Are there other treatments I can try?
  • What if I do nothing?

Read more here

https://www.nhsinform.scot/oktoask

Justsign Ltd

Justsign Ltd provides British Sign language Interpreting for NHS Fife

More information about this provider can be found at: Just Sign website or the BSL Just Sign Facebook page.

Language Line Solutions

Language Line Solutions provides Community Language and British Sign Language interpreting services via audio and telephone (community languages) and video (BSL and community languages).

More information about this provider can be found at: www.languageline.com/uk

Near Me Appointments

Near Me is a video consulting service that enables people to join online appointments. Interpreters can be brought into Near Me appointments. For more information visit NHS Fife Near Me Service or send email to Fife.EqualityandHumanRights@nhs.scot

NHS Fife Text Service

NHS Fife Text Service is a non-emergency service for patients who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, unable to speak on the phone due to impairment or who require accessible communication support. This text service supports communication between patients and the hospital and clinics. This text service can also be used by NHS Fife staff to send information to patients.  Text messages are checked regularly. To register to use this service send a text message to 0780 580 0005.

Information on how to contact the Emergency Services via text message here.

NHS Inform

NHS Inform website is a Health and Social Care information service. To use this service visit NHS inform.

NHS Inform uses Browseloud which supports and helps people read or listen to the information on the NHS Inform website. Browseloud can be found at the top right-hand side of the screen.

For speakers of British Sign Language (BSL) visit - What is NHS Inform? BSL version.

NHS Inform has lots of information in other languages, Audio and Easyread versions. To find this information visit NHS Inform Translations.

Support Organisations

Seescape

Based in in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Seescape is a well-established charity working to improve the independence and quality of life of those who have sight impairment, their families and carers. Seescape believes that it is important to raise awareness of the needs of sight impaired people by changing attitudes and breaking down the barriers that prevent people living with sight impairment being full and active members of society.

For more information visit: https://www.seescape.org.uk/

Fife Centre for Equalities

This organisation provides information and support. To contact Fife Centre for Equalities phone 01592 645310, Text message on 07800005834 or send email at info@centreforequalities.org.uk.

For more information visit: Fife Centre for Equalities

Gypsy/Travellers Scotland

Information for Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland can be found on the Gypsy/Travellers Scotland: Coronavirus Information 

British Deaf Association

The British Deaf Association has information in BSL on COVID-19 on their website.

Translation Services

NHS Fife provides a translation service for services and functions of the organisation where the patient requires the information in their own language. This is to help patients understand the messages about their care, self help, treatment and processes.

If you require information to be translated into another language, audio, BRAILLE or Large Print please contact the service, clinic, your doctor, nurse or send an email to Fife.EqualityandHumanRights@nhs.scot.