At London City Smiles, we’re delighted to announce a partnership with Islington Council, specifically regarding their Sign Language Interpreting Services. Inclusivity is a huge part of our service, and we’re thrilled to make our dental practice more accessible to deaf residents and those with hearing impairments. Below, we explain our collaboration with Islington Council in detail and its implications for our practice.
What is a Sign Language Interpreting Service?
Simply, sign language interpreting services make it easier for deaf residents and people with hearing impairments to access our clinical services. According to statistics from the UK government, approximately 11 million people in the country are deaf or hard of hearing. What’s more, there are at least 151,000 users of sign language. As such, making essential everyday services like dental practices much more accessible to those hard of hearing is of the utmost importance. It is something that we’re incredibly proud of achieving in collaboration with Islington Council.
How does the service work?
As a result of our partnership, deaf people can now have a sign language interpreter attend appointments in several places in Islington to make the entire process much easier for them. As well as appointments at London City Smiles, deaf people can also access interpreters at social services meetings, housing appointments, schools, council tax meetings, and other consultation meetings.
The service is also available for NHS hospital appointments and some GP practices, depending on their relationship with the council. Essentially, it’s an excellent service that makes the process of booking necessary appointments and attending various services much less stressful for deaf people.
How to book an interpreter
To schedule an interpreter to join you at an upcoming appointment, you will need to visit the Sign Language Interpreting Services page on Islington Council’s website. Due to the high demand for the service, you should seek to book your interpreter around 2-4 weeks in advance. You should also note that they work 9-5 Monday-Friday, and to schedule an interpreter outside of these hours, you will need to contact the office directly. To complete a booking, you will need to input your personal details and information regarding the meeting or consultation.
About London City Smiles
We’re thrilled to offer this service to deaf residents, and we hope that it makes your visit to our dental practice hassle-free. Based in Angel Islington, our specialist team of dentists can assist you with a range of services, including general and cosmetic dentistry, and facial aesthetics treatments. For more information about our services or to schedule an appointment, visit our website and familiarise yourself with what makes London City Smiles stand out.
