Silent Voices - Impact Report 2026

Report - 17 March 2026

Silent Voices is a long-standing engagement initiative that has been hosted by Healthwatch Salford since 2019.
The project brought together d/Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users on a bi-monthly basis to identify and address key issues affecting their experiences with health and care services.

Initially commissioned by the Salford Clinical Commissioning Group and then supported by NHS Greater Manchester, the project aimed to empower the d/Deaf community and influenced meaningful improvements in service accessibility and quality.

Key Achievements

 • Awareness Raising: Developed a series of ‘Top Tips’ videos to educate health and care professionals on d/Deaf awareness and communication best practices. 

• Improved Access to Services: Played a pivotal role in the commissioning of a BSL relay service, enabling better access to GP practices, pharmacies, and opticians in Salford. 

• Inclusive Feedback Mechanisms: Supported the creation of a BSL video portal where individuals can share their experiences or submit complaints in their preferred language. 

• Community Engagement: Organised a d/Deaf drop-in event, providing a platform for community members to voice their views directly to health and care providers.

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Silent Voices - 2026 Impact Report
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