A DEAFBLIND mum from Walshaw is urging health providers to make services more accessible, after she was refused a consultation with her GP.

Claire Morley has Usher Syndrome Type Two, a rare condition which has left her with hearing loss in both ears as well as severe and degenerating visual impairment.

She was shocked last month when staff at Ribblesdale Medical Practice in Knowsley Street refused to offer a face-to-face consultation she needed for an inflamed eye.

Instead, they insisted on speaking on the phone with her husband Craig, who was at work 11 miles away, while she was sat in the waiting room.

Mrs Morley, of Greenway Close, said: “Knowing my condition, they should have bypassed the usual system, especially as I have to take my eye health so seriously.

“It should have been flagged up that a phone consultation was not appropriate and that I needed to see a doctor so I could lip read them.

“I understand the need to make cuts to services, but it is compromising accessibility for the people who need medical help the most."

The 40-year-old, who works for Bury Council’s adoption service, uses a digital hearing aid and is registered as legally blind, having lost her peripheral vision.

Her calls for extra support have been backed by deafblind charity Sense, whose head of public policy, Sue Brown, said: "Unfortunately we hear too many stories of deafblind people being unable to access health services.

“Surgeries and hospitals need to prioritise accessible healthcare and take steps to accommodate deafblind people’s needs, for example providing interpreters when required and being flexible with how patients can access their services.

“Staff also need better training on how to communicate effectively with someone who has sensory loss at every step of the patient journey; from the waiting room, to the consulting room, to the ward.”

Mrs Morley, whose daughter Poppy is 20-months-old, added: “It’s a really exhausting condition to try and live with, and it makes keeping yourself safe so difficult.

“I’m well-educated but my career prospects have been severely limited to desk jobs where I can do everything by email.

“I will need a cane and a guide dog at some point and I could lose my sight completely at any time.”

A Ribblesdale Medical Practice spokesman said: “We are sorry that the patient is unhappy with the service provided on this occasion.

“We do not offer walk-in appointments; however, we provided a triage service and offer appointments if required, or signpost patients accordingly to other NHS services.

“In this instance, the patient was offered a same-day appointment at a specialist clinic.

“We also contacted additional services in order to make enquiries about how the patient could access appropriate care at the earliest possible opportunity.

“To ensure our service is of the highest standard for all our patients, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, we follow NHS guidelines and provide access to services such as interpreters and a listening service.

“We want to reassure our patients that we always strive to provide the best possible care.”