The Royal Marsden Hospital Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures - Lisa Dougherty [165]
If the person is wearing a hearing aid, do not assume they can hear you. Ask if it is on and if they still need to lip read.
If an interpreter is required always remember to talk directly to the person you are communicating with, not the interpreter. This is respectful and confirms that it is them you are addressing. E
Make sure you have the listener’s attention before you start to speak. Otherwise they may miss crucial information. E
Contextualize the discussion by giving the topic of conversation first. Signposting helps people understand. E
Talk clearly but not too slowly, and do not exaggerate your lip movements. Lip reading is easier for people when you talk fairly normally. E
Use natural facial expressions and gestures and try to keep your hands away from your face. Blocking your face will make understanding more difficult. E
Use plain language; avoid waffling, jargon and unfamiliar abbreviations. Plain language will be more easily understood. E
Check that the person understands you. Be prepared to repeat yourself as many times as necessary. Many people need to have information repeated to understand it. E
Websites and useful addresses
Action for Blind People
Helpline: 0800 915 4666
Website: www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk.com
Depression Alliance
Telephone: 0845 123 23 20
Website: www.depressionalliance.org.com
Depression UK
Email: info@depressionuk.org
Website: www.depressionuk.org.com
NHS patient information toolkit, version 2.0 (2003)
Website: www.nhsidentity.nhs.uk/patientinformationtoolkit/patientinfotoolkit.pdf.com
Plain English Campaign
Telephone: 01663 744409
Website: www.plainenglish.co.uk.com
RNIB See It Right
Telephone: 020 7388 1266
Helpline: 0303 123 9999
Website: www.rnib.org.uk.com
RNID
Telephone: 020 7296 8000
Textphone: 020 7296 8001
Information Line (freephone):
Telephone: 0808 808 0123
Textphone: 0808 808 9000
Website: www.rnid.org.uk.com
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Leaflet on delirium:
www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfo/problems/physicalillness/delirium.aspx.com
Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
Telephone: 020 7378 1200
Website: www.rcslt.org.com
Speakability
Helpline: 0808 808 9572
Website: www.speakability.org.uk.com
Stroke Association
Helpline: 0845 3033 100
Website: www.stroke.org.uk.com
References
Adams, J. and Whittington, R. (1995) Verbal aggression to psychiatric staff: traumatic stressor or part of the job? Psychiatric Care, 2 (5), 171–174.
Back, A.L., Arnold, R.M., Baile, W.F. et al. (2005) Approaching difficult communication tasks in oncology. CA, 55 (3), 164.
Baile, W.F., Buckman, R., Lenzi, R. et al. (2000) SPIKES – a six-step protocol for delivering bad news: application to the patient with cancer. Oncologist, 5 (4), 302–311.
Billings, C.V. (2004) Psychiatric inpatient suicide: focus on intervention. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 10, 190–192.
Blake, C. and Ledger, C. (2007) Insight into Anxiety. Waverley Abbey Insight Series. CWR, Farnham.
Booth, K., Maguire, P., Butterworth, T. and Hillier, V. (1996) Perceived professional support and the use of blocking behaviours by hospice nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 24, 522–527.
Botti, M., Endacott, R., Watts, R. et al. (2006) Barriers in providing psychosocial support for patients with cancer. Cancer Nursing, 29 (4), 309–316.
Bowes, D.E., Tamlyn, D. and Butler, L.J. (2002) Women living with ovarian cancer: dealing with an early death. Health Care for Women International, 23 (2), 135–148.
Brady Wagner, L. (2003) Clinical ethics in the context of language and cognitive impairment: rights and protections. Seminars in Speech and Language, 24 (4), 275–284.
British Medical Association (2007) Mental Capacity Act. Guidance for Health Professionals. BMA, London.
BNF 2011 British National Formulary. BMJ Group and RPS Publishing,