Many thanks to those who have contacted me about face coverings and lip reading.
I agree with you that it is vital to ensure that patients who are deaf or hard of hearing are not isolated from care through face coverings preventing them from lip reading, particularly children who may not feel confident asking someone they have not heard correctly to repeat themselves.
I am glad that a coalition of charities, including the National Deaf Children's Society, Action on Hearing Loss and the Royal Association of Deaf People have joined forces to issue guidance on how to speak with a face mask. I will work with my colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure that NHS Staff are able to protect themselves and others from the virus without restricting communication for those who are hard of hearing or deaf.
