Provide funding to optical services to pay for BSL interpreters

Background

Provide Government funding to optical services, so that they can pay to book BSL interpreters for deaf patients. I am a dispensing optician who has seen many deaf patients in recent years.

Additional details

The cost of a BSL interpreter for a single visit by far outweighs the current private or NHS sight test fees (even if NHS optical vouchers were included). This means that not all opticians can afford to provide support to their deaf patients, leading to potential communication barriers and unequal access to eyecare.

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