Sensory impairment engagement report - March 2023

LCC commissioners were interested to know the views of the users of Sensory Impairment Services on the method of delivery of services, their accessibility, how to improve services, and what difference these services make to service users’ lives. 

In September 2022, Healthwatch Liverpool engaged with two organisations who support people with sensory impairments. These organisations were Merseyside Society for Deaf People (MSDP), who provide services for d/Deaf and hard of hearing people, and Bradbury Fields/Christopher Grange Sight Loss Learning Hub, who provide services for blind and deafblind people. 

The deadline to complete the engagement was originally set for the end of November 2022, however due to the circumstances of ensuring the project was accessible to blind people it was extended for Bradbury Fields and Christopher Grange Sight Loss Learning Hub to January 2023.    

The engagement proved successful and was a meaningful exercise in laying the foundations required for on-going discussions with the community. Based on the analysis of the available evidence, Healthwatch Liverpool compiled this report and a series of informed recommendations which will be presented to Liverpool City Council, who commission Sensory Impairment Services. 

There are many positive examples throughout the report of where service users indicate the services are working well in regard to accessibility. However, there were also many examples where feedback indicated that improvements could be useful. 

Read the report